HTB strengthens London and South East development finance team

Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) has appointed Nick Clayton as a lending director within its development finance division.

The Bank has expanded its London and South East origination team in response to ongoing demand from SME developers and brokers across the region.

Clayton joins from Close Brothers Property Finance, where he spent more than a decade across a range of roles spanning origination, portfolio management and relationship management. Most recently, he was business development manager, having previously held positions including lending manager and senior portfolio manager. 

Working as part of the London and South East team led by head of originations Rob Syrett, Clayton will work closely with brokers and SME developers across residential and mixed-use development schemes.

Nick Clayton said: "HTB has a strong reputation in the market for being straightforward to deal with and for understanding how development projects work in practice. That was a major attraction for me.

“Developers are operating in a more challenging environment than they were a few years ago, whether that’s planning delays, build costs or managing delivery timelines. In that market, developers and brokers value lenders who are accessible, consistent and able to keep deals moving. I’m looking forward to working with brokers and developers across the region and being part of the team’s continued growth.”

Rob Syrett, head of originations for development finance at Hampshire Trust Bank, added: “Nick brings a strong mix of origination and portfolio management experience, which gives him a practical understanding of both structuring deals and supporting projects as they progress.

“We continue to see good opportunities across London and the South East, particularly from experienced SME developers who remain active despite the pressures around planning and delivery. In that environment, accessibility, consistency and strong working relationships matter more than ever. Nick’s appointment further strengthens the experience and regional coverage we continue to build across the business.”