The government has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of housing policy designed to extend property ownership to 90 per cent of the adult population. The reforms, described by ministers as the most significant since the Right to Buy scheme of the 1980s, aim to address the deepening crisis of generational inequality in housing. Under the new measures, eligibility criteria for mortgage lending will be relaxed, stamp duty thresholds raised, and a new shared equity programme introduced with state backing.

Critics warn the plan risks inflating an already overheated market, while proponents argue it is a necessary intervention to restore social mobility. The Treasury estimates the package could add 1.5 million new homeowners over the next five years, though independent analysts question whether supply can keep pace with demand.