Hampshire Trust Bank has strengthened its development finance team with a new senior appointment and a series of internal promotions as it continues to invest in experienced decision-making across the proposition.

Jake Sweeney has joined the bank as lending director within the development finance team, arriving in January 2026 from Goldentree Financial Services PLC, where he spent more than nine years working on residential-led development projects.

Based in the North West, Sweeney will support developers and their advisers across the region while also working with contacts nationwide. His appointment adds further depth to the lender’s regionally focused approach to development finance.

Alongside the new hire, Hampshire Trust Bank has promoted Joseph Gibson to lending manager, with Andrew Dignum and Sarah Dix stepping up to senior lending director roles. Abbie Mace will also move into a new position as operations and data analyst from 1 March 2026, strengthening reporting, insight and operational oversight as the development finance proposition continues to scale.

The latest changes follow continued investment in the team, including the appointment of Mike Tierney as lending director in September 2026. Together, the appointments and promotions are intended to reinforce both origination and delivery, with a focus on consistent judgement throughout the lifecycle of a development scheme.

Sweeney said: “I am pleased to be joining HTB’s development finance team.

“What matters in this part of the market is applying sound judgement consistently as schemes move through delivery, particularly when circumstances change.

“The approach to staying closely engaged through that process was a big attraction for me, and I am looking forward to contributing to the team.”

Neil Leitch, managing director of development finance at Hampshire Trust Bank, said: “These appointments and promotions reflect a very deliberate approach to how we build our development finance team.

“We focus on supporting experienced SME developers, and the brokers and property professionals who work alongside them, with certainty, regional understanding and pragmatic judgement.

“Having the right experience involved early, and staying engaged as projects evolve, is critical. Strengthening the team in this way gives us the depth and continuity to support schemes through planning, delivery and exit, even when timelines shift, with the confidence that facilities agreed at the outset remain dependable.”