A total of 8,351 new equity release plans were agreed in Q1 2017: 61% higher than the 5,175 recorded in Q1 2016. Meanwhile, the total value of equity release lending in Q1 reached £697 million, up by 77% from £394 million in Q1 2016. In both cases, the year-on-year growth is the highest seen in any quarter since quarterly records began in 2002…..