Assetz Capital has repriced its refurbishment, regeneration and development exit loans, with all borrower rates now starting at below 10%.

The Manchester-based SME property development finance provider said the move reflects the growing importance of refurbishment and regeneration as the housing market grapples with record-low planning approvals, delays in Section 106 negotiations and the adoption of High-Risk Building protocols.

The new pricing includes development exit loans from 9.25% per annum, designed to allow developers to refinance away from existing funders, release equity tied up in completed or near-complete schemes and free up funds while units are marketed.

Residential refurbishment loans now start from 9.5% per annum, supporting conversions, extensions and modernisations to bring existing stock back into use.

Planning assistance loans, also from 9.25% per annum, will allow work on commercial-to-residential projects to progress ahead of full planning consent.

“While the system recovers, refurbishment and regeneration present a vital route to keep housing supply moving”

Andrew Fraser, chief commercial officer at Assetz Capital, said: “There has been a positive uptick in planning applications submitted in Q2 2025, but we are acutely aware developers are facing unprecedented delays, with these planning approvals in England at a 20-year low.

“While the system recovers, refurbishment and regeneration present a vital route to keep housing supply moving.

“These projects are typically faster to deliver, easier to fund, and rely on existing infrastructure – making them an ideal focus for developers and brokers in the current climate.”

The lender pointed to figures showing more than 165,000 privately-owned commercial premises currently stand empty in the UK, alongside more than 7,000 local authority-owned properties that have been vacant for over a year. Assetz Capital said such buildings offer a faster path to delivering much-needed homes than starting from scratch with new developments.

Fraser added: “We have priced these products to be highly competitive, but this is about more than just rates. It’s about speed, certainty, and the ability to fund through complexity.

“We’re calling on brokers to bring refurbishment and regeneration cases forward this autumn – now is the time to unlock these opportunities.”