Developers need confidence that homes can be sold and FTBs need realistic routes on to the housing ladder
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published an independent evaluation of the Help to Buy scheme, providing strong evidence of the initiative’s value for money.
Adam Bovingdon, managing director – Real Estate Finance – United Trust Bank comments: “The significance of the report is not really whether Help to Buy (HTB) benefited the volume housebuilders, most accepted that it did. But those headlines were unhelpful and distracted from the real benefits of the scheme. The more important question was whether it delivered wider economic and social value, and, on the government’s own evidence, the answer appears to be yes.
“For several years the narrative around Help to Buy has been dominated by criticism that it inflated prices and primarily benefited large housebuilders. Whilst no scheme is perfect, this evaluation appears to challenge much of that thinking.
“Help to Buy supported housing delivery, increased access to home ownership and generated high value for money, with an estimated £25bn of net social value. The report also found that around 15% of all new homes delivered between 2013 and 2023 were attributable to the scheme, equating to more than 280,000 additional homes.
“Our view, which we keep making and the report highlights, is that planning reform is essential and should remain a priority, but increasing housing supply requires more than simply granting permissions. Developers need confidence that homes can be sold and first-time buyers need realistic routes onto the housing ladder. Demand side support has always been a critical part of that equation.
“News that Kier is choosing to exit the housebuilding market in 2027 amid weak buyer demand, rising costs and ongoing market uncertainty, highlights the real risk that the industry will lose the very companies which would be capable of delivering the government’s housing target. A credible demand side stimulus could help restore confidence and support the flow of capital required to build the homes the country needs.
“If the government is serious about achieving its housing ambitions, the focus cannot solely be on planning reform. A package of measures that stimulates demand, whether through a modernised Help to Buy style product, SDLT reform or other targeted support for first-time buyers, should also be part of the conversation. The housing market functions best when both supply and demand are addressed together.
“The report’s findings provide credible evidence that well designed demand side intervention can support economic growth, boost tax revenues, improve home ownership and underpin the delivery of the new homes the UK needs to prosper.
“Whilst it’s good to see policymakers at least revisiting these ideas – now we need action.”