CMB arranges commercial mortgages, bridging loans and development finance for property professionals across Exeter and Devon. Led by Matt Lenzie, ex-Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland, institutional-grade underwriting, direct lender access and decisions in 48 hours.
Exeter commercial property finance, offices, retail and mixed-use assets
CMB combines former Lloyds and Bank of Scotland underwriting experience with direct board-level relationships at the UK's leading commercial lenders.
Former Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland professionals who understand lender criteria inside-out
Direct relationships with lender decision-makers for faster approvals and better terms
Proven success arranging complex commercial property finance across the UK
The factors lenders weigh when assessing Exeter commercial mortgages, sector demand, transport connectivity and active regeneration programmes.
“We see steady occupier demand across Exeter, underpinned by a Russell Group university, a large public-sector base and the expanding Science Park on the eastern edge of the city. Prime retail holds up around Princesshay and the High Street, while the Quay has matured into a leisure and hospitality destination. Suburban parades in St Thomas, Heavitree and Topsham trade on local convenience income. Constrained land supply keeps values firm across this Devon city, so we often see value-add and refurbishment strategies rather than new prime stock changing hands.”
, CMB Market Analysis
Regeneration in Exeter centres on the phased expansion of Exeter Science Park on the eastern edge, the ongoing evolution of the Quayside as a leisure quarter, and redevelopment of the bus and coach station site alongside the St Sidwell's Point leisure complex. A strong low-carbon agenda is also shaping refurbishment of older city-centre stock.
Exeter is the dominant commercial property market in the South West outside Bristol, with HM Land Registry recording 739 commercial-leaning transactions across the city in the rolling five-year window to Q1 2026.
The Devon regional briefing covering Exeter and the wider region. A Q2 2026 commercial property briefing on Devon, the largest county in the South West, anchored by Plymouth on the naval and marine-engineering coast and Exeter on the M5 and A30 growth axis, with a long tail of Torbay tourism, South Hams retirement and North Devon coastal markets. We walk through transaction volumes across the eighteen principal towns, recent Acuitus auction yields between roughly seven point eight and nine point nine percent, and where lender appetite sits today.
Part of the Commercial Property Briefing podcast series. Subscribe via the RSS feed.
312 commercial sales in Exeter across the last 60 months, sourced from HM Land Registry Price Paid Data. 11 records in the current sample are confidently sector-classified; the wider recent sample is shown as general commercial transaction evidence.
Cherry Trees, Plot 3, Greendale Lane, Clyst St Mary, Exeter
Grace Parade, Unit 4, Grace Road West, Marsh Barton Trading Estate, Exeter
Fair Oak Farm Business Park, Unit 1, Clyst Honiton, Exeter
Trinity House, South Street, Exeter
Maclaines Warehouse, Unit 4, Haven Road, Exeter
Kingfisher Court, Unit 7, Pinhoe Trading Estate, Exeter
Bradfords, Silverton Road, Matford Business Park, Exeter
Clyst House, Exton, Exeter
Unit E2, Mercury Business Park, Bradninch, Exeter
Winslade Barton, 6 The Old Stables, Clyst St Mary, Exeter
20, Marsh Green Road East, Marsh Barton Trading Estate, Exeter
2 Rose Cottage, Marsh Green, Exeter
10, Matford Mews, Matford, Exeter
11, Little Wood Close, Cranbrook, Exeter
14, Manley Meadow, Exeter
30, Ingrams Place, Cranbrook, Exeter
8, Sanctuary Orchard, Cheriton Bishop, Exeter
The Old Bakehouse, Butts Lane, Christow, Exeter
90, Fore Street, Heavitree, Exeter
Unit 5, Waterbridge Court, Exeter
Priory Orchard, 2, Critchards, Woodbury, Exeter
Whitehouse, 100, Pennsylvania Road, Exeter
9, Curie Mews, Exeter
Little Dorweeke Farm, Silverton, Exeter
Byteign Lodge, Christow, Exeter
Cockwood Service Station, Starcross, Exeter
24, Ingrams Place, Cranbrook, Exeter
83, Heavitree Road, Exeter
Haven Lea Farm, Cheriton Bishop, Exeter
175, Farm Hill, Exeter
Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (Category B records). Sector classification is address-based and best-effort; unclassified records are shown as general commercial transactions and smaller sectors may include mixed-use or conversion deals.
Three core debt structures cover the majority of Exeter commercial property deals. Each carries a different lender panel, LTV ceiling and pricing band, match the structure to the asset and the timeline.
Lender appetite, yield bands and debt structures vary materially by property type. Pick the briefing that matches your Exeter acquisition.
Office investment finance for headquarters buildings, business parks, multi-let suites and office-led mixed-use schemes.
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Industrial and logistics finance for big-box distribution, multi-let estates, last-mile urban logistics and trade counter parks.
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Retail property finance for high street parades, retail warehousing, shopping centres and convenience-led mixed-use.
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Finance for buildings combining commercial ground floors with residential upper floors, the dominant deal format in UK secondary markets and the engine of corporate-acquired property activity.
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Hotel property finance for trading boutique hotels, branded operator-let assets and aparthotel acquisitions.
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HMO finance for houses in multiple occupation, from 4-bed student lets to large sui generis conversions.
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Student property finance across both markets: traditional student HMOs near campus and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) blocks.
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Care home finance for owner-operators and investors, from 20-bed residential homes to nursing and specialist dementia care.
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Founder & Principal Broker
With a career spanning Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland, and a partnership in a corporate finance business, Matt brings institutional-grade expertise to every deal in Exeter. Currently a board advisor to a pension administrator and trustee with £3.9bn of assets under advisory, Matt has raised over £300m of capital for property professionals across the UK.
View Full ProfileWhat makes Exeter fundable, where the development opportunity sits, which lenders are active, and the asset classes our team finances most often.
Exeter presents development opportunities linked to Exeter Quay. Growing demand from the Higher Education sector is creating opportunities for purpose-built commercial space and conversion projects. Strong transport links enhance viability for mixed-use and residential-led schemes.
High-street banks including NatWest, Barclays and Lloyds compete hardest for prime Exeter offices and well-let investments with strong covenants. Challenger and specialist lenders such as Shawbrook, Allica Bank and Aldermore take the secondary retail, mixed-use and conversion stock around the city centre and Quayside. Student and purpose-built accommodation draws lenders familiar with University of Exeter demand. Owner-occupier term rates in the county capital sit around 6.0 to 7.5% pa in 2026.
We arrange finance across Devon and know how Exeter's constrained geography shapes deals: prime stock trades infrequently, so timing and a ready lender matter. We work with valuers who understand the difference between Cathedral Close heritage assets, Quayside leisure units and the Science Park's laboratory and office space. We structure around the city's strong education and healthcare covenants, and we set realistic exits for refurbishment plays given the limited institutional-grade supply.
Commercial property news for Exeter will appear here once available. Check back soon for the latest market updates.
We provide commercial mortgages, bridging finance, and development finance throughout Devon.
Commercial mortgage services available across Exeter and surrounding areas. View larger map
Recent sales, planning movement and market signals for Exeter, drawn from HM Land Registry data and local authority planning registers.
Change of use from a preschool to two residential units with associated parking and access. at 44 Winsor Avenue Exeter EX2 4BL (2 units). Approved by Exeter City Council.
Source: Exeter City Council, ref 26/0536/FUL
Installation of 1No transformer, 2No LV Feeder Pillars, 1No Meter Cabinet and 12No EV Charging posts with canopies into the existing car park area. at Moto Hospitality Exeter Motorway Services Area Sidmouth Road St Loyes Exeter.... Approved by Exeter City Council.
Source: Exeter City Council, ref 26/0625/FUL
HM Land Registry data shows 312 commercial property transactions in the Exeter area over the past 60 months, with a median sale price of £290k. Lender appetite tends to follow transaction evidence, so an active local market supports stronger valuations.
Source: HM Land Registry price paid data
HM Land Registry records the sale of Cherry Trees, Plot 3, Greendale Lane, Clyst St Mary, Exeter for £750,000 in Q4 2025, one of 12 commercial transactions recorded in the Exeter area that quarter.
Source: HM Land Registry price paid data
Planning movement often signals upcoming finance demand. If you are buying, refinancing or developing in Exeter, see our guide to getting a commercial mortgage or talk to us about the local market.
The questions we answer most often on Exeter deals, covered in depth in our knowledge hub.
What lenders assess, who finds it easy, and how declined cases still get funded.
Deposit requirements by property type, acceptable sources, and ways to reduce yours.
The routes to 100% borrowing: additional security, strong trading businesses and equity.
High-street banks, challengers and specialists: who lends on what in Devon.
Leniency by lender category and product type, and what flexibility really costs.
Typical 2026 pricing by product, and what drives the rate you are offered.
Data-grounded answers about commercial property finance in Exeter, sourced from HM Land Registry transactions and our own deal flow.
HM Land Registry recorded 312 commercial property transactions in Exeter during the most recent reporting window. The median commercial sale price is £290,000, with the middle 50% of deals between £205,000 and £475,000. Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (Category B records).
The median commercial sale price recorded by HM Land Registry in Exeter is £290,000. Smaller end deals (lower quartile) sit around £205,000, while larger transactions (upper quartile) reach £475,000 and above. These are the figures lenders will benchmark valuations against when assessing a commercial mortgage application in Exeter.
The most active commercial sectors in Exeter (by recorded transaction count) are: office (5 transactions), industrial (2 transactions), land (1 transaction). Sector mix matters because lender appetite, LTV ceilings and rate pricing all vary by use class. Speak to our team for an indicative quote on the sector you are targeting.
Yes. We arrange commercial mortgages, commercial bridging finance and development finance for property in Exeter. Typical loan sizes range from £150,000 to £25m+, with LTVs up to 75% on standard commercial assets and up to 70% LTGDV on development. Whole-of-market access, including the high-street banks, challenger lenders and specialist commercial funders.
Call 07595 366094 or use the contact form to request a commercial mortgage quote in Exeter. We will review the asset, sector, deal structure and lender appetite specific to Exeter and come back with an indicative rate, LTV and term within 24 to 48 hours.
It is very achievable for sound propositions. Exeter's status as the county capital of Devon, its Russell Group university and its large public-sector base give lenders confidence in tenant demand. Prime offices and let investments around Princesshay and the Quay attract high-street banks, while secondary retail and conversions suit specialist lenders. The main constraint is limited institutional-grade stock, so we position each case carefully and usually approach several lenders to secure competitive terms.
Most commercial mortgages in Exeter are arranged at 65 to 75% loan-to-value, so expect a deposit of 25 to 35% of the purchase price. Owner-occupiers buying premises in the city can sometimes borrow at the higher end, particularly strong trading businesses. Investment purchases on the Quayside or in suburban centres such as St Thomas are assessed on rental cover as well as loan-to-value. We match your profile to the right lender to keep the deposit requirement as efficient as possible.
High-street banks including NatWest, Barclays and Lloyds compete for prime Exeter offices and well-let investments, while challenger and specialist lenders such as Shawbrook, Allica Bank and Aldermore take on secondary retail, mixed-use and conversion stock across the city. Student and purpose-built accommodation near the University of Exeter draws lenders familiar with that demand. We hold relationships across all these categories and approach the ones best suited to your specific Devon property.
Yes. We arrange commercial finance right across Exeter and its travel-to-work area, including Topsham, Exmouth, Cranbrook, Crediton and the villages of East Devon. Whether the asset is a Quayside leisure unit, a Science Park office on the eastern edge of the city or a high-street shop in a nearby market town, we work with valuers and solicitors who know the local Devon market. Distance from the city centre rarely changes what we can achieve; the fundamentals of the property and tenant matter more.