by Conrad Robins | Jul 2, 2025
Our tailored finance solution helped the agency secure the perfect space and confidently step into property ownership.
Client: Nera Marketing
Facility: £135,000 mortgage
Purpose: Purchase of a commercial unit to facilitate business growth
Background – First business premises
Nera Marketing, has built up several years of experience in the digital marketing sector and has recently taken the next step by expanding its operations and establishing a new limited company.
This growth has enabled Nera to offer a full suite of services, including website design, Google Ads management, search engine optimisation (SEO), and a variety of associated marketing solutions, all from a rented commercial unit.
Our client was seeking finance to purchase a commercial unit that would support the business growth and reduce ongoing rental costs.
Challenge – Securing finance
Securing finance proved difficult, as the limited company had only one year of trading history. Most lenders require at least two years of accounts and a proven track record to be confident that the borrowing can be serviced.
Several high-street banks had declined the application, stating that it was too early for finance and that there was no track record to support it.
Solution – Identified a lender open to projection-led funding
With our in-depth knowledge of the lending market, we identified a lender open to projection-led funding. We worked closely with our client to develop a robust business plan, clearly demonstrating how the purchase of the freehold would support business expansion, create new jobs, and generate sufficient cash flow to meet the loan repayments.
Outcome – successfully secured a £135,000 mortgage
We successfully secured a £135,000 mortgage to fund the purchase of the commercial unit. As a result, Nera Marketing now benefits from:
- Ownership of a valuable business asset
- Greater financial stability by eliminating rent payments
- Security of tenure, with no risk of rising rental costs
- The ability to expand operations, thanks to the additional space the new unit provides
“Working with ASC Finance for Business has been absolutely brilliant. From the start, they were fast, responsive, and genuinely listened to exactly what we needed. Even at an early stage — when other lenders had turned us away — ASC offered their expertise and believed in the potential of our business.
“Thanks to their support, we secured funding to purchase our own commercial unit. This has given us the freedom to invest more into our business, expand our operations, take on new staff, and improve the space now that we own it. We couldn’t recommend them highly enough.”
— Nera Marketing Ltd
by Conrad Robins | Aug 20, 2024
Background – Setting the scene and how the development began
Work continues on a four-phase residential apartment development in Cornwall after ASC secured a development exit loan on behalf of our developer client.
In 2017, our client purchased a former bus depot in St Austell with planning permission to convert the site into 24 houses and six flats. Following the purchase, he submitted a new planning application and was granted permission to build 52 apartments in four blocks.
Using his own money and a private loan, the developer completed the construction of the first block of apartments. With the sale proceeds from this first phase he began building the second block in the development.
Screenshot
Challenges – Funding pressures and obstacles that threatened progress
When the second phase was nearing completion, the developer approached ASC to help secure a loan to finance the rest of the build and repay the private loan. He needed to borrow £1.75 million – £1.35 million to repay the private loan, £200,000 to finish the second block, and £200,000 to begin work on the third phase.
We secured an agreement from a lender to provide a £2 million development exit loan (the required amount plus fees and interest). However, a potential issue picked up by the lender during its due diligence threatened to scupper the loan.
Solution – How ASC worked to overcome the issues and secure finance
To keep the transaction on track, we arranged a meeting between the developer, his architect, senior management at the lender – and us. The outcome was that we were able to alleviate concerns by demonstrating to the lender the likelihood of our client obtaining a slight variation in the planning consent, to improve the scheme’s profitability. Following this meeting, the lender agreed to proceed with the facility, subject to a restructuring – releasing the money in stages rather than in a single advance. This has the benefit of less interest cost to the borrower as interest is not charged on undrawn funds. It was a great outcome all round.
Outcome – The results and benefits achieved through ASC’s support
Developer exit finance is available for (near) physically completed development schemes where the developer wishes to “cash out” before sales are completed. In this example, the value of an experienced broker can be measured in the practical approach taken by the lender in making a commercial decision to support the application.
At ASC, we only work with tried and trusted lending partners, so you can rely on us to select the right lender for your circumstances.
by Conrad Robins | Jun 10, 2024
Background – property developer seeks finance for new project
Thanks to Steve Bealing from the ASC Surrey office, a Surrey property developer is on the way to undertaking his latest new build development.
Our client, an established property developer, approached Steve to assist with securing the finance for his latest project – a new build development of three luxury homes in Woking, Surrey. He needed to borrow £2.2 million (65% of the gross development value) to fund the land purchase and build cost. Having worked with Steve on several other schemes over the past 10 years, he was confident ASC could make the deal happen.
Challenges – legal and access issues delay progress
Within a month, Steve secured loan approval from Close Property Finance, a specialist property development funder. However, the land purchase subsequently threw up several legal complications that threatened to jeopardise the deal. There were two access issues – a private road to the site and a footpath across the site, as well as a concern about getting all the utilities to the site.
Solution – ASC’s expertise and communication kept deal on track
Steve liaised extensively with the legal parties – his client’s solicitor, the bank’s solicitor, the vendor’s solicitors, and the estate agent to keep the deal on track. Eventually, the issues were resolved, and the deal was able to progress.
Fortunately, having chosen a specialist lender with solid experience in the property development field, the deal didn’t fall apart. As the bank is a specialist in this area, it was undaunted by the issues and has the support of a robust legal department. Many other development funders would probably have walked away.
Outcome – funding secured and project moving forward
Our client is delighted to have secured the finance he needs and plans to have all three new homes built and on the market within 12 months. He commented:
“Steve has been a consummate professional at all times and has been of great value in helping me to acquire funding for any of my development sites. He was especially of great help on my last site, where we were faced with quite a few legal issues.
After these years, I have come to trust and value his opinions, and he is always the first person I go to when looking to secure funding and will continue to do so in the future.”
At ASC, we have extensive experience in property development finance and can assist with ground-up developments as well as conversions, from single properties to multi-unit sites. We are happy to work with experienced developers and new entrants alike.
by Conrad Robins | Feb 24, 2023
Background – Expanding the business through property acquisition
Our clients, an engineering company, owned two commercial investment properties. They wished to buy a third light industrial property for £1 million adjacent to the two they own where they would relocate their business. Simple you might think, however they needed to borrow the full purchase price plus stamp duty and VAT. They approached their own bank who declined to assist. However, we made a more compelling application to the same bank and were able to demonstrate that they could afford the repayments on the total debt, and that taking a charge on one of the existing properties together with the new one would be sufficient security for them to lend against.
Challenges – Legal complexities with property security
The bank agreed. Valuations were done, signed off and solicitor instructed. The client’s solicitor then informed us of a little-known piece of English law stating that if someone owns a number of adjacent properties, the rights and easements fall away and if the bank had to exercise its rights over the properties being offered for security, then these two units would not have the rights required… The only way was to offer the bank security over all three units.
Solution – Structuring the deal to satisfy lender requirements
Luckily we knew the right people to approach at the bank and this was quickly proposed by us and subsequently executed with the correct caveats and the transaction moved to completion.
Outcome – Successful £1m loan completion
Thanks to ASC’s expertise and lender relationships, the £1m loan was successfully completed, allowing the client to expand their operations and secure their long-term growth. This case highlights how strategic financing can unlock new opportunities — learn more about our Commercial Mortgages and how we can support your next project.
by Conrad Robins | Nov 9, 2021
Background – Building trust through long-term collaboration
Karl Luker was introduced to Dan Gateshill at ASC Finance Business’ Hampshire & Dorset office, by his accountant in July 2017.
Having successfully assisted Karl on two previous occasions, Karl approached Dan to support him with finance in buying a house with a view to redeveloping the site into 2 houses to sell on. Having taken the time to fully understand the funding requirements for the project, along with the features that Karl required, we approached one of our trusted lenders and received indicative terms within 1 working day. This was subject to planning permission, and once the client had this, they had the formal offer, subject to security valuation within 7 working days.
Challenges – Balancing multiple finance needs efficiently
Karl was remortgaging his home to use as the deposit for the purchase of the property, as such we co-ordinated with his Mortgage Broker, Accountant and Solicitor to ensure all required documents were received by the involved parties, including liaising with the Surveyor to ensure the valuation report was received in a timely manner, leaving Karl with more time to run his business.
Solution – Tailored finance and close client support
We completed on the purchase in January 2021 with a £639,000 development finance facility. We met with Karl at the property to see how he was getting on with the redevelopment, and asked Karl on what he felt were the benefits of working with ASC Finance for Business.
What do you feel was the benefit of working with ASC? “I feel that ASC will endeavour to find the best deal on the market, tailored to my specific needs. “
What were you particularly impressed and or unimpressed with? ASC un-tied lots of minor issues created by other brokers over the years on my various mortgages. Dan and Lisa worked hard to both simplify my borrowing and to put new finance in place. I’m now in a much better position and looking for my next project.
Do you think it’s better to use a broker when applying for commercial finance and if so, why? I’d say so as they have a wide platform of lenders on the open market, and they may find you a better deal. If you go direct to lenders, then they may not give you the extra benefits that ASC may find.
How likely are you to recommend ASC? Very likely.
Is there anything that you feel we could do, or do better to improve our services? Nothing, it’s been a great 4/5 years with ASC, and I look forward to working with Dan and the team on future projects.
www.fourcornersproperties.co.uk
www.facebook.com/FourCornersPropertiesLtd
www.linkedin.com/company/four-corners-properties-ltd/about
Outcome – A successful project and lasting partnership
Dan Gateshill, Regional Director for ASC in Hampshire, Dorset and Isle of Wight commented “Karl is a long standing client of ASC and we have built a great relationship over the last five years. On first meeting with him, it was clear that Karl needed assistance in simplifying his affairs, so although complex to begin with, subsequent finance applications have been quicker to arrange as a result. It has been a pleasure to assist Karl with his various finance requirements and we look forward to helping to add further value to his property portfolio in the near future”.
Working with ASC Finance for business has enabled Karl to make the below transformation to the property
Contact Dan to see how we can help you to secure the right finance for your project whether you are near ASC Hampshire, ASC Dorset or ASC Isle of Wight. Dan can also be found on Facebook and Linked In.
