Bellway chief sees 10% building boost from proposed first-home support

In its 13 October 2026 report, the Guardian said Bellway chief executive Jason Honeyman expected the proposed Your First Home scheme could increase annual completions by around 10%. The England-only programme would offer eligible first-time buyers of newly built homes a government-backed equity loan covering 20% of the price, with a minimum buyer deposit of 2.5%.

Honeyman cautioned that some buyers could postpone purchases until the programme began. Bellway was targeting 9,000–9,400 homes for its reporting year, below the previous year’s 9,695, citing weaker demand, a smaller order book and rising construction costs. Further scheme details, including its launch date, were expected in the budget scheduled for 28 October.

The reported income and property-price caps would make eligibility central to the scheme’s impact. The Guardian expected several large housebuilders to benefit, but suggested less support for Berkeley, whose business focuses on higher-priced London homes, and Vistry, which had shifted towards affordable and social housing.