The new Economic Secretary, Lucy Rigby, and Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook, are set to meet with major high street banks tomorrow as the

government doubles down on its commitment to help more people buy their first home. The roundtable at the Treasury comes as part of the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to make home ownership more accessible and build 1.5 million new homes.

Ministers will urge banks to put first-time buyers at the top of their priority list, making full use of the “Leeds Reforms” announced in July. These changes are designed to support buyers with smaller deposits and lower incomes, opening the door to thousands who might otherwise struggle to get a mortgage.

The reforms are expected to help around 36,000 extra first-time buyers secure a home in the first year alone. Alongside this, the Financial Conduct Authority is streamlining mortgage rules—such as affordability checks—so more people can borrow responsibly and within safe limits.

This week’s meeting follows discussions with building societies, where lenders showcased innovative products to widen access to the housing market. Options on the table include safe, low- or no-deposit mortgages for those with solid credit histories.

The Building Societies Association also revealed plans for a public awareness campaign to make sure buyers know about these new opportunities. The government has signalled it will support this effort to close the knowledge gap and give more people the chance to step onto the housing ladder.