HTB establishes new Development Finance office in Leeds as part of continued regional growth

10 June 2025

Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) has established a new base for its Development Finance team in Leeds, strengthening its presence and deepening its commitment to SME developers across the North of England.

The move builds on HTB’s long-standing commitment to supporting SME developers across the regions. The new office, located at No. 1 Aire St, will provide a dedicated base for HTB’s Northern Development Finance team, with Harry Bhogal, Russell Higgins, Josh Swaby, Dan Boswell, and Rob McFarlane all based in Leeds.

HTB has been active in the North for many years and is a long-standing sponsor of the Yorkshire Children’s Charity Property Awards. The bank will again support this year’s event in October, marking ten years of involvement and ongoing commitment to the region.

HTB’s Development Finance proposition continues to evolve to meet the needs of SME developers, offering flexible structuring, funding capacity of up to £35 million per borrower, and regional expertise built on deep market knowledge.

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."