Norton Broker Services supports care home expansion with £600k facility from Black & White Bridging

21 April 2026

Norton Broker Services has supported a care home operator in securing a £600k commercial bridging facility from specialist lender Black & White Bridging, enabling the acquisition of a second property and accelerating the business’s expansion plans.

The borrower, an established care home operator, identified an opportunity to grow capacity through the purchase of an additional site. However, securing a traditional commercial mortgage proved challenging due to the existing home holding a Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating of “Requires Improvement”, below the “Good” rating typically required by mainstream lenders.

While the necessary operational improvements have already been implemented, delays in the CQC reinspection process meant the updated rating had not yet been formally issued.

To avoid missing the acquisition opportunity, a bridging solution was structured to provide 100% of the required funding, secured against both the existing care home and the new property.

This approach has enabled the borrower to proceed immediately, expanding operations without being held back by regulatory timelines.

The acquisition is expected to significantly strengthen the business, effectively doubling income potential, supporting additional recruitment, and enhancing overall profitability.

Following reinspection and confirmation of an improved CQC rating, the borrower intends to refinance onto a longer-term commercial mortgage.

Mike Underwood, Relationship Director at Black & White Bridging, commented:

“This case highlights how bridging finance can provide practical solutions to businesses and perfectly demonstrates how it can help SMEs grow and seize opportunities.

“The team at Norton presented the case perfectly to enable the funding to proceed quickly.”

Daniel Jones, Bridging and Commercial Sales Manager at Norton Broker Services added:

“As the ability for the borrower to obtain a term loan was impeded due to the CQC rating, a bridging loan was the only option for them to raise the finds needed to proceed with the acquisition.

“Mike and the team at Black & White Bridging quickly understood how to structure the deal and funded quickly for the acquisition to take place.”