As the UK opens up, Puma Property Finance closes four development loans in four weeks on £70 million of projects

Against the backdrop of lockdown easing and the UK’s re-opening, Puma Property Finance has continued its strong deal activity in 2021 by closing four development loans in four weeks, totalling £70 million GDV of projects.

David Kaye, CEO of Puma Property Finance, commented:

“We are delighted to have been able to complete four loans across different sectors around the country, building on our track record of helping professional developers access finance and begin their developments with minimal delay. Having continued to lend throughout 2020, we anticipate another strong year in 2021. As our focus is on being a true relationship lender, it is particularly pleasing to note that two of these loans were repeat transactions with developers with whom we have previously worked successfully.”

In Milton Keynes, the team completed a £15 million development facility to convert vacant office space into 112 one and two-bedroom residential units. The six-storey development is due to complete in September 2022 and will help meet housing demand for first-time buyers and buy-to-let investors whilst enhancing the local area through transforming a disused building.

Milton Keynes residential scheme

In Belfast, meanwhile, the team closed an £11.9 million development loan to fund purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), the second PBSA scheme it has funded in Belfast. Located less than five minutes’ walk from Queen’s University in a popular part of Belfast city centre, the scheme is scheduled to complete in August 2022, ahead of the 2022-23 academic year.

Belfast PBSA development

Over in Portsmouth, Puma Property Finance also closed a £10 million development loan to fund the construction of a PBSA scheme with communal facilities including a common room, on-site gym, dining room and secure bike storage. This is the second loan to a repeat client, having previously financed a 245-bed PBSA scheme in Southampton, due for completion in August 2021.

And finally, the team also completed a £6.5 million development loan to a longstanding client to fund the development of a 45-apartment retirement living scheme in Lymm, Warrington. The scheme forms part of a wider development comprising a new nursing home and day nursery, delivering much-needed, high-quality facilities to the local area.

Puma Property Finance delivers development loans from £5 million to £35 million to finance residential, commercial and specialist sector projects such as student accommodation, hotels and healthcare, including care homes and retirement living. The business offers three core loan products: stretch senior development loans; pre-development bridge finance for site acquisition; and post-development exit finance. In 2020, it funded new projects with a total value of over £300 million – and it continues to expand its lending activity in both deal volume and size.

Get in touch

For more information on any of our lending products, please contact one of our dedicated professionals on 0207 647 8160 or enquiry@pumapropertyfinance.co.uk.