Hampshire Trust Bank expands development team

The specialist lender said the decision to build the team meant it could expand its development finance proposition to deliver greater levels of support for property developers and intermediaries.

Additions include lending directors to originate and manage facilities; eight relationship managers to assist the lending directors in providing top quality service to brokers and borrowers; and two business development managers (BDMs) to work closely with intermediary partners in supporting them and their clients. 

The expansion has been overseen by Alex Upton, the newly appointed managing director of the development finance division. Before joining the team, Upton helped grow HTB’s specialist mortgages division. 

HTB said it had also invested heavily in its development finance team and has steadily doubled its resources over the past six months.

It claimed this had allowed it to build a strong sales team and extensive support network for brokers and property developers whilst maintaining access to its flexible range of end-to-end property financing solutions.

Upton (pictured) said the company had always aimed to provide an “exceptional proposition and service” to developers.

She said: “This won’t change. However, we recognise increased demand from brokers for a development finance partner who can support them throughout the process from initial enquiry to completion and beyond. This is why we have aligned the business to actively recognise the value that intermediaries bring to the market. 

“I’m looking forward to being able to offer full and seamless support to our borrowers and our broker partners from initial land purchase, through development and into either development exit or term investment. 

“I’m proud to be leading such an energised, enthused and highly capable team of experts. The market is buoyant and I’ve got a spring in my step for 2022.”