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Help to Buy homeowners are now being hit harder than most

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THE GOVERNMENT’S Help to Buy scheme “went on too long” and we will “all be left paying the price”, a leading property association warns today. 

Rising numbers of first-time buyers who purchased using the Help to Buy equity loan scheme are increasingly finding themselves struggling to make repayments. 

Under the scheme, which closed in March, buyers could purchase a new-build home with a 5% deposit and a 20% government-backed equity loan, or 40pc for those in London. 

This loan was interest-free for the first five years. 

After that, interest is charged at 1.75pc – a rate that then increases by a measure linked to inflation.

But the surge in costs is starting to push first-time homeowners to breaking point. 

Many are trying to downsize, a position most would never have predicted when taking their first step on the property ladder.

Commenting on the growing crisis which many homeowners are facing as a result, Jonathan Rolande of the National Association of Property Buyers, said: “Homeowners who took advantage of Help to Buy loans are now being hit harder than most. Help to Buy stimulated growth and job creation not long after the financial crash of 2008 when the market was still very fragile. 

“However, it resulted in a great transfer of wealth from the government and borrowers to property developers. Asking prices, builders’ profits and share prices rose quickly, creating some of the ingredients of today’s inflation, interest rate and house-price difficulty.

“The scheme was generous and it went on too long, artificially propping up the new-build sector. In the end it looks like we’ll all be paying the price.”

Outlining the wider problems across the sector, Mr Rolande continued: “Just about everyone who has anything to do with property has been affected by the rise in interest rates and the fall in prices over the last 12 months, but new home owners more than most.

“This is because much like a new car, new homes invariably lose value once occupied. The fittings such as carpets and kitchen appliances aren’t new and often, as the developer looks to exit, discounts are applied to the last remaining properties that bring down the values on the whole development.” But Mr Rolande said he doesn’t feel the Government should intervene.

He said: “No, interventions shouldn’t happen. This is no scandal as we have seen with, for example, cladding or mis-sold mortgages. Buyers were aware of the costs and the risks and in many cases, the properties are still worth more than was paid – the market has risen for four out of the last five years.

“If owners made money on the purchase, it would be a tax-free gain – in my opinion, the taxpayer shouldn’t have to step in to assist with the losses when it would see nothing of the gains. 

“Mortgage holders will, like non Help2Buy owners, benefit from lender forbearance, instigated by the government. This should be the limit of state interference.”

 

Business

Caws Cenarth celebrates growing success with Tesco partnership

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WEST WALES cheesemaker Caws Cenarth is celebrating a successful first few months in Tesco stores after its artisan cheeses were launched into the retailer’s Grab and Go range.

The award-winning family business, based in Carmarthenshire, says strong customer demand has followed the launch in selected large Tesco stores across Wales.

The range includes Thelma’s Original Caerffili PGI, Perl Wen, Cenarth Brie and Perl Las, which have proved popular with shoppers looking for high-quality Welsh produce in a convenient format.

Business growth

The success has marked a significant step forward for Caws Cenarth, which has expanded its team and appointed Paul Garnish as Commercial Director to support continued growth.

He will work on strengthening retail partnerships, identifying new opportunities and building on the momentum created by the Tesco launch.

Founded in West Wales, Caws Cenarth has built a reputation for producing artisan cheeses using locally sourced milk and traditional cheesemaking techniques.

The company says the Tesco partnership reflects growing appetite among customers for premium Welsh produce that combines quality, convenience and strong local provenance.

Tesco praise

Tesco Wales buyer Nathan Edwards said: “We’re delighted to see Caws Cenarth go from strength to strength with their artisan cheeses in our Grab and Go range.

“Customers are increasingly looking for high-quality, locally sourced options, and this success is a fantastic example of how Welsh suppliers like Caws Cenarth are meeting these needs.

“Caws Cenarth’s commitment to craftsmanship and quality really stands out, and we’re proud to support their continued growth.”

‘Just the beginning’

Caws Cenarth Managing Director Carwyn Adams said: “We’re absolutely delighted with how our cheeses have been received by Tesco customers.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see more people enjoying what we do, especially as a family business rooted in West Wales.

“We’ve always believed in making cheese the right way – with care, quality ingredients and respect for tradition – and it’s exciting to be able to share that with a wider audience.

“This is just the beginning, and we’re looking forward to building on this momentum.”

The partnership forms part of Tesco’s wider commitment to supporting local suppliers and bringing regional produce to customers across the UK.

 

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Tudor Glen Caravan Park Pembrokeshire planning call

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A CALL for a Pembrokeshire caravan site to be allowed static caravans in lieu of touring ones, which the applicant says was allowed back in 1988, has been submitted to the national park.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Keith Stevens of Tudor Glen Caravan Park, Jameston, through agent Lambe Planning & Design Ltd, seeks a certificate of lawfulness of an existing use of the site to establish the status of a 1988 planning permission.

Essentially what that means is the applicant is seeking confirmation of details of that permission as to whether it includes static or touring caravans.

A supporting statement says: “Tudor Glen Caravan Park is a long-established family owned and operated Holiday Park. The Park extends to approximately six acres and caters for families within static caravans, touring caravans, motorhomes and tents.

“The Park is exceptionally well run and achieved the 2025 runner up award for Best Family Campsite South Wales. The Park has a range of modern purpose-built facilities including a heated swimming pool, laundrette, dedicated play area, games room and full amenity facilities.”

Covering the 1988 approval of removing two previous conditions connected to the site, granting permission for up to 50 caravans and occupancy of March 1 to January 9, it says: “It does not stipulate that the caravans must be removed from the site during the ‘close period’ as would be the case if the consent related to touring caravans,” adding: “It is therefore clear that the intentions of that planning application and the consent granted relates to the siting of up to 50 caravans and not specifically touring caravans.

“If that consent were to be partially restricted to touring, a touring condition would have been imposed and / or a condition requiring that the caravans must be removed from the site during a close period – it doesn’t.”

It concludes: “Whilst the park has been operated on the basis of providing both Static Caravan and Touring Caravan Pitches, [the 1988] Planning Approval clearly gives permission for any type of caravan which complies with the Legal Definition of a Caravan.

“That permission does not restrict the type of unit to either static or touring caravans and does not restrict the layout of the holiday park it is therefore concluded that [the 1988 permission] allows for the siting of any unit which complies with the legal definition of a caravan, and does not restrict the layout or location of the units.

“The applicant therefore seeks confirmation from the LPA to that effect via this Certificate of Lawful (proposed) Use application.”

The application will be considered by park planners at a later date.

 

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Business

Pembrokeshire Lydstep Beach Village development refused

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A CALL for an extra sign advertising a Pembrokeshire holiday park, adding to exiting unauthorised ones, which planners say would create “visual clutter and intrusion” and a distraction to drivers, has been refused.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, permission was sought, through Lakeside Signs Limited, for an additional sign advertising Haven’s Lydstep Beach Village, near Tenby, the sign proposed for North Lodge where the holiday park joins the main road.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s highways authority raised no concerns regarding the specific location of the sign, but said “there remains a broader concern regarding the cumulative impact of signage along this section of highway,” adding: “The increasing proliferation of signs in this location has the potential to create a visually cluttered environment, which may distract drivers and, in turn, give rise to road safety implications.”

A Park officer report recommending refusal said: “Currently, there are eight flagpoles, one A-frame banner type sign, one pole mounted panel sign, and a further panel sign, located behind the stone wall on the western side of the park’s entrance. None of these advertisements have the benefit of advertisement consent.”

It added: “The increasing number of signs in this location has the potential to create a distraction to drivers, which may result in road safety implications. In addition, the proliferation of signage would create clutter that would result in visual intrusion in this countryside location affecting amenity. As such, the recommendation is to refuse.”

It went on to say: “Whilst it is not deemed that the proposed advertisement would result in harm being caused to the specific special qualities of this area, there are concerns that the display of this advertisement would, along with the remainder of the advertisements, which are unauthorised, result in a proliferation of advertisements, which in turn would cause visual clutter and intrusion.

“This is especially problematic in a countryside location where development is strictly controlled. Should the existing signage be consolidated and rationalised, the Authority may support the proposed sign, however, currently, any additional signage would not be deemed appropriate.”

The application was refused on the grounds that it would, along with the exiting signage, “result in visual clutter and intrusion which would detract from the visual amenity of this countryside location, and would result in potential distraction to drivers, which in turn would rise to road safety implications”.

 

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