{"url":"https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article","title":"Wates boss seeks Help to Buy stimulus for housing","domain":"housingtoday.co.uk","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/14128509/pexels-photo-14128509.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"housing","category":"Business","language":"en","slug":"d0ebec5f","id":"d0ebec5f-5313-44a2-9fcf-81ed1bca5d2a","description":"Wates CEO Call: Eoghan O’Lionaird urges government for Help to Buy-style stimulus to restart housing sector.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-co","summary":"## TL;DR\n- **Wates CEO Call:** Eoghan O’Lionaird urges government for Help to Buy-style stimulus to restart housing sector.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article)\n- **Firm Results Strong:** Wates reports 2025 profit rise and record turnover amid industry challenges.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article)\n- **Geopolitical Worry:** Middle East war undermines confidence, with O’Lionaird saying ‘The sooner this is over, the better’.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article)\n\n## The story at a glance\nWates chief executive Eoghan O’Lionaird calls on the government to launch a Help to Buy-style stimulus for the housing sector. This comes as the firm posts rising profit and record turnover for 2025. The plea follows O’Lionaird's admission that the Middle East war is hurting industry confidence, reported on 2026-04-23 amid ongoing economic uncertainty.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article)\n\n## Key points\n- Wates, described as a contracting giant, released strong 2025 financials with profit up and turnover at a record high.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article)\n- O’Lionaird links low housing sector confidence to the ongoing Middle East war's economic impact.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article)\n- He proposes government intervention via a stimulus like the past Help to Buy scheme to kickstart activity.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article)\n- O’Lionaird quotes: ‘The sooner this is over, the better’, referring to the conflict.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article)\n\n## Details and context\nThe article reports on comments from Wates chief executive Eoghan O’Lionaird amid the firm's positive 2025 results, but ties them to broader sector woes.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article) He specifically blames undermined confidence on the Middle East war, which affects construction and the economy.\n\nHelp to Buy was a prior government scheme offering equity loans or guarantees to boost home buying; O’Lionaird wants something similar now to revive housing starts.\n\nNo further financial details or policy specifics appear in visible content; full reporting is paywalled.\n\n## Key quotes\nEoghan O’Lionaird, chief executive of Wates: ‘The sooner this is over, the better’.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article)\n\n## Why it matters\nSlow housing output contributes to UK affordability pressures and construction slowdowns.  \nFor contractors like Wates and homebuyers, a stimulus could lift activity despite geopolitical drags.  \nWatch if government responds in upcoming budgets, though no commitment is reported.\n\n## FAQ\nQ: Who is calling for the housing stimulus?  \nA: Eoghan O’Lionaird, chief executive of Wates. He links the need to low confidence from the Middle East war. The firm just reported strong 2025 results.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article)\n\nQ: What stimulus does O’Lionaird propose?  \nA: A Help to Buy-style measure from government to kickstart the housing sector. Help to Buy previously aided buyers with loans or guarantees.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article)\n\nQ: Why is confidence low in housing?  \nA: O’Lionaird says the ongoing Middle East war undermines industry and economic confidence. He hopes for quick resolution.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article)\n\nQ: How did Wates perform in 2025?  \nA: Profit rose with turnover hitting a record, per the article tied to the CEO's comments.[[1]](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article)","hashtags":["#housing","#uk","#construction","#wates","#government","#stimulus"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/boss-of-contracting-giant-wates-calls-on-government-to-kickstart-housing-sector-with-help-to-buy-style-stimulus/5141899.article","title":"Original article"}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-23T11:03:15.999Z","createdAt":"2026-04-23T11:03:15.999Z","articlePublishedAt":"2026-04-23T00:00:00.000Z"}