Gen H has widened its New Build Boost mortgage scheme through a new partnership with Lovell Homes, adding plots across 25 developments in England and Wales.

The move marks the first time a housebuilder has joined the scheme since its launch last year, broadening the reach of an initiative positioned as an alternative to Help to Buy.

New Build Boost is administered by Gen H in partnership with selected developers. In 2025, it launched exclusively with Persimmon Homes and Charles Church. The addition of Lovell Homes brings the scheme to more sites and, for the first time, into Wales.

The model combines a conventional mortgage with an equity loan element. Under the scheme, the value of the equity loan is fixed for five years and is interest-free for the full term.

According to Gen H, this structure increases purchasing power by an average of 18% compared with a standard mortgage, equating to roughly £50,000 for a typical household.

Borrowers are required to provide a 5% deposit. The lender said the scheme has been used primarily by first-time-buyers, including families, healthcare workers and foreign nationals, as well as those without access to family financial support.

Justine Elliott, sales director at Lovell Homes, said: “We understand that buying a home can feel out of reach for many people, especially with rising costs affecting aspiring homeowners.

“Whether you’re purchasing for the first time, need more space for your family, or looking to move up the ladder, we’re committed to helping make homeownership more achievable, with practical solutions and real support.

“Our focus is on helping customers overcome these challenges and making homeownership more affordable and achievable.

“Through our partnership with Gen H, we’re pleased to offer additional support to help buyers take the next step with confidence.”

Pete Dockar, chief commercial officer at Gen H, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Lovell Homes to the New Build Boost scheme.

“We have planned New Build Boost’s expansion carefully to include partners we know we can depend on to deliver beautiful, high quality homes for our homeowners, and Lovell fits that bill perfectly.

“This is a huge win for us, our mission, and of course, for aspiring homeowners across England and – for the first time – Wales.

“I look forward to working closely with Lovell over the coming months to help hopeful buyers find a place to call home.”

The expansion comes as lenders and developers continue to explore alternatives to the government’s former Help to Buy programme, with affordability pressures and deposit constraints remaining key barriers for many first-time-buyers.

For brokers operating in the new build space, the scheme’s extension to additional developments may provide another route to support clients struggling to bridge affordability gaps, particularly in areas where equity loan-style products have been limited since Help to Buy closed to new applicants.