Assetz Capital has reduced pricing by 100 basis points on Assetz Elevate, its specialist development finance proposition for SME developers requiring loans between £250,000 and £1.5 million. Having already provided more than £262 million of lending in this segment, the lender has cut rates to 9.89% as it deepens its commitment to supporting smaller residential developments across the whole of the UK.
Alongside the pricing cut, Assetz Capital has recently expanded its regional origination team with the appointment of four additional regionally placed business development managers. The move strengthens local coverage and should give developers and brokers greater regional expertise, faster decision-making and a more relationship-led service.
The investment comes at a time when many SME developers remain cautious about progressing new projects. Higher build costs, planning delays and ongoing economic uncertainty have created a more selective market, increasing demand for development finance lenders able to offer certainty, flexibility and experienced support throughout the development lifecycle.
Assetz Elevate is Assetz Capital's dedicated development finance proposition for smaller residential schemes, supporting developments of one to fifteen homes. The product is designed to support experienced SME developers, first-time developers with the right professional team in place, and landowners seeking to unlock value through planning gain opportunities.
By providing a dedicated proposition for loans between £250,000 and £1.5 million, Assetz Capital aims to ensure smaller developments receive the same attention, expertise and responsiveness traditionally afforded to larger projects.
"SME developers remain fundamental to delivering new homes across the UK, yet many continue to face unnecessary barriers when accessing development finance," said Andrew Fraser, chief commercial officer at Assetz Capital (pictured).
"At a time when confidence across the market remains mixed, we believe lenders have an important role to play in helping viable projects move forward.
"Reducing pricing by 100 basis points, alongside investing in our regional business development team, demonstrates our long-term commitment to this market. Whether we're supporting an experienced developer, a first-time developer with the right professional advisers, or helping a landowner realise the value of planning consent, our objective is the same, to provide competitive funding, local expertise and the certainty needed to bring more homes to market.
"Smaller loans should never mean a lower standard of service. Every successful developer starts somewhere, and every housing scheme, regardless of size, contributes to meeting the UK's housing need."
