Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) has established a new regional base for its Development Finance team in Leeds, reinforcing its long-standing support for SME developers across the North of England.
The new office on Aire Street will house HTB’s Northern Development Finance team, including Harry Bhogal, Russell Higgins, Josh Swaby, Dan Boswell and Rob McFarlane. HTB said the move provides a stronger platform to work directly with brokers and developers in the region, offering local expertise and more direct access to its development finance offering.
HTB has been active in the North for many years and is a returning sponsor of the Yorkshire Children’s Charity Property Awards, where it will mark ten years of involvement this October.
The bank said its development finance proposition is designed around the specific needs of SME developers, offering funding capacity of up to £35m per borrower and flexible structuring that adapts to current market pressures.
Neil Leitch, managing director of development finance at HTB, said: “Our development finance business has always been built on supporting SME developers in regional markets. These are clients who are creating real homes and shaping local communities, often in places where larger lenders are less active. To do that well, you need experienced people on the ground who understand the market and can provide certainty of funding when it matters.
“In today’s environment, where developers face planning delays, rising costs and funding uncertainty, flexibility and pragmatic structuring are essential. Leeds has always been an important centre for us, and having a dedicated office here strengthens our ability to support brokers and developers across Yorkshire and the wider North. We are committed to being a trusted, long-term partner for our clients as their projects and businesses evolve.”
Michael O’Donnell, head of relationship management at HTB, added: “Leeds is a key centre for development and an important hub for our broker relationships across the North. Having an office here gives us a strong platform to build even closer partnerships with brokers and their clients. Local knowledge, trusted relationships and certainty of funding really matter in this market, and we are committed to providing flexible, specialist support that helps developers manage the real-world challenges they face today. We are looking forward to working closely with our partners on the ground and helping them deliver successful projects.”
