Refinancing a Challenging Commercial Yard

See how Lime Finance Solutions secured a £290k facility on a challenging, low-quality commercial yard pending Croydon Council’s development approval.

December 11th, 2025

Case Study Spotlight: Refinancing a Challenging Commercial Yard

At Lime Finance Solutions, we specialise in securing finance for unique and complex properties that don’t fit the standard lending mold. Our recent success involved a commercial yard that presented significant challenges.

The Client and the Asset

Our client is a property investor who owned a commercial yard. This property consisted of storage space, a shipping container, and a dilapidated outbuilding. The space was currently leased to a construction firm for vehicle and materials storage.

Crucially, the property was subject to a planning application with Croydon Council for the development of seven flats and new commercial space. The council was requesting amendments before signing off on the development.

The Aim and the Challenge

The property was a lower-quality asset for most commercial lenders due to its poor condition and lack of any substantial building. Although there was a tenant in place, the core challenge was the asset’s unique nature.

The client’s main goal was to release capital against the asset while awaiting full planning approval. The priority was to unlock equity from the site, which had the potential to significantly appreciate in value once the planning was signed off, something of an increasing trend.

Our Lime Finance Solution

This case was entirely about matching the lender to the specific asset type. The overall condition of the property meant that most lenders would have rejected the application upon receiving the full valuation report. This is where using good bridging or development lenders can pay dividends.

Our approach was to ensure complete transparency and comfort with the lender from the outset:

Proactive Information Sharing: We worked closely with a specialist lender who was comfortable with the asset type.
Detailed Site Presentation: We provided the lender with detailed plans, photos, and video of the site before the valuation took place. This ensured the lender understood exactly what they were advancing against.

The Result

This upfront approach paid off. We successfully secured a £290,000 facility for the client, which completed in November 2025. This allowed the investor to release vital equity, positioning them perfectly for the site’s future development once planning permission is secured.

Do you own a commercial asset that is currently considered ‘lower quality’ or requires development finance? Contact Lime Finance Solutions today to discuss how our specialist approach can help you unlock capital.

David Farmer

Over 30 years finance experience. Former credit underwriter, founder of Lime Finance Solutions in 2012. Multi Award winning business, featured in Sunday Telegraph, Parliamentary Review, Sky TV and others. Regular contributor to press and business associations. FCA Authorised, ALIBF Qualified. Specialist in Commercial Mortgages, Business Lending, Property and Development Finance.