International buyers now account for almost three-quarters of new home sales in prime London.

According to a Savills report, World in London, 74% of new-build sales in prime locations are to international buyers, but at least half are transacted to UK-based international buyers.

Of the circa 5,150 new-build sales last year to international buyers, 3,000 will become rental stock and a further 1,400 main residences.

Savills also estimates that 3,000 affordable homes were brought forward through S106 agreements last year in schemes at least part-funded by international sales activity.

The report says that no more than 750 sales last year - across all price points - were international buyers acquiring second homes in London.

International buyers also accounted for 38% of resale transactions in prime locations - back to levels first seen in 1990.

Savills estimates that international buyers have spent £37bn in London's prime housing markets since 2006, and it forecasts that they will continue to invest at a rate of £6bn a year for the next five years.

The prime London residential market has recorded stronger price growth in the past three months than at any time since March 2012.

Prime London house prices rose 2.5% between April and June, bringing annual growth up to 6.6% from 5.5% at the end of the first quarter.

The strongest growth was seen in prime southwest London, running from Fulham to Richmond and Battersea to Wimbledon, where values rose 3.2% in the last quarter.

Prime property in Fulham outperformed all other districts across prime London with annual price growth of 13% at mid-year.

Prime central London values rose by just 1.6% during the quarter and 4.4% year-on-year. Price growth has been concentrated on Mayfair, Chelsea, Belgravia and Knightsbridge.