Development finance from people who develop property
We understand what it takes to deliver a successful development because we do it ourselves.
Helmsley provides property finance to developers across England and Wales, combining experienced lending judgement with practical knowledge of buying, building and selling property.
You deal directly with our senior team from the outset. We take time to understand the scheme, assess the figures and give you a clear view on how we can help.
Property experience you can build on
Helmsley Group is a privately owned property business based in York, active since 1980. Alongside our lending, we develop, invest in and manage property ourselves.
Over the past ten years, we have lent around £70 million. Some borrowers are now on their seventh or eighth project with us — a reflection of the relationships we build and the service we provide.
What makes Helmsley different
Speak directly to the people assessing your loan
An informed view before you commit to reports
Practical understanding of development
Funding structured around the project
What we finance
- Ground-up residential developments.
- Conversions and refurbishment projects.
- Part-completed developments.
- Bridging requirements.
- Land with implementable planning permission, selectively.
We work with established developers and can also consider those with a shorter track record where there is appropriate experience within the professional team and a sound financial contribution.
Our lending approach
Every proposal is assessed individually, taking account of the property, the borrower’s experience, the development budget and the proposed exit.
Development funding is released in stages as works progress, supported by monitoring surveyor assessments. Interest can be rolled up where agreed, helping preserve cash during the build.
We set out the proposed loan amount, pricing, fees, security and drawdown requirements in our terms, so you can assess the funding package as a whole.
If your project has an unusual feature, speak to us early. We will explain whether it is something we can consider and what we would need to take it forward.
Lending at a glance
We assess every proposal individually, but the following gives a guide to the schemes we typically consider.
| Loan size | £250,000 to £5 million. Larger requirements considered individually. |
|---|---|
| Location | England and Wales. |
| Loan term | Typically 12–18 months. |
| Planning | For development proposals, the necessary planning permission must be granted and implementable. |
| Security | A first legal charge over the property, with personal guarantees and other security agreed for each transaction. |
| Development costs | Funding can include up to 100% of agreed build costs, released in stages against monitored progress, subject to overall lending limits. |
| Borrower contribution | An appropriate equity contribution, assessed alongside the project’s costs, value and risk. |
| Repayment | A clear and credible strategy, usually through sale or refinance. |
We look for realistic sales values, a properly costed development budget with contingency, and sufficient margin to support a viable project.
If your scheme falls outside these guidelines, speak to us. We can give you an initial view before you commit to a full submission.
Criteria are indicative. All lending is subject to assessment, due diligence and agreed terms.
Working with brokers
We welcome introductions from brokers and aim to become a lender you know well and can return to with confidence.
You have direct access to our senior lending team, clear feedback on proposals and a practical discussion about how a suitable transaction could be structured. If a case does not work for us, we will explain why.
We recognise the importance of your relationship with your client and keep you involved as the transaction progresses. Broker fees are agreed between broker and borrower, with the proposed arrangements made clear at the outset.
Tell us about your scheme
Send us the location, a brief description of the project, the key figures and your proposed repayment strategy. We will review the information and come back to you with an initial view.
An appraisal is helpful if you have one, but you are welcome to speak to us before preparing a full submission.
Or call our lending team on 01904 682 800.