Specialist lender adds committed wholesale facility as it marks 15 years in the UK market
Hope Capital Property Finance has secured a £35 million committed wholesale funding facility with Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB), as the specialist bridging lender moves to accelerate its expansion across the UK short-term finance market in 2026.
The bilateral facility, Hope Capital's first funding line with HTB, will support the lender in deploying capital across a growing pipeline of residential, semi-commercial, and commercial property transactions throughout England, Wales, and Scotland. The deal follows a period of significant operational and financial growth at the firm, which recently reached its 15th year in the bridging finance sector.
The agreement arrives as Hope Capital reports record performance figures heading into the second half of 2026, including its largest-ever team headcount, with further recruitment ongoing. The lender has also expanded its dual representation solicitor panel — a move designed to accelerate completion timescales and reduce costs for brokers and their clients.
A scalable line for a growing book
For HTB, the deal reflects a continued commitment to backing specialist lending businesses that demonstrate strong underwriting discipline and long-term strategic direction. Wholesale funding partnerships of this kind have become increasingly important for mid-sized bridging lenders looking to diversify away from single-source capital structures.
Daisy Xu, head of structured finance at HTB, said: "We are pleased to support Hope Capital Property Finance at a pivotal point in their growth. Beyond strong underwriting capability, what stood out to us was their clarity of their long-term strategy in a market that continues to evolve. This facility is designed not just to support their immediate pipeline, but to provide a scalable funding line as they establish their presence in the UK bridging sector. It also reflects our broader commitment to backing specialist lenders who demonstrate both consistency and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions."
Kate Cowan, chief financial and operating officer at Hope Capital, pointed to the deal as evidence of the business's underlying strength despite wider market pressures. "Securing this standalone facility with HTB is a significant milestone for Hope Capital Property Finance," she said. "Even amid market uncertainties in the sector, we are stronger than ever, backed by clear governance, full transparency with our investors, and our largest team to date."
Building on a record 2025
The HTB facility is the latest in a series of funding milestones for the Liverpool-based lender. Hope Capital previously enhanced its funding capacity through Shawbrook Bank in June 2025, a move that contributed to a 61% uplift in loan book value between the end of 2024 and the end of 2025. Over the same period, applications increased by 86% and facilities funded rose by 46%, according to figures published by the company.
Jonathan Sealey, chief executive officer at Hope Capital, said the business is focused on sustaining that momentum. "Building on our strongest year in 2025, and with the support of HTB, we are focused on accelerating growth in 2026, expanding our product offering, and maintaining the speed, flexibility, and reliability expected by our brokers and borrowers."
The Bank of England's Q1 2026 Credit Conditions Survey points to sustained demand for secured lending as mainstream affordability constraints persist.
Hope Capital offers bridging loans from £100,000 to £5 million, with fixed rates starting from 0.79% and a maximum loan-to-value of 75%, across terms of up to 18 months. Each case is individually underwritten, with the lender citing the ability to issue terms within an hour and release funds within days as a core differentiator for time-sensitive broker cases.
The new HTB facility builds on a wider strategic framework that includes Hope Capital's return to NACFB patronage in April 2026, the launch of its Max Net bridging product, and ongoing product development across commercial conversions and refurbishment finance.
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