It’s hard to pick anything out that will have a positive effect on the development finance sector. The Help to Buy scheme disappears in 2023 with restrictions being applied in 2021 in respect of who can access it and a cap on the prices of the homes that can be bought using the state-backed equity loans.

Will this have a negative effect on the number of new starts? It may well contribute to a further slowing of house prices, which might not be a bad thing.

Our sector seems to be largely ignored by the powers that be on the basis, I think, that we will continue to push ahead and innovate irrespective of the market and any support (or lack thereof) forthcoming.

•   Specialist funders seen as enablers to the whole transaction
•   Anatomy of a deal
•   Autumn Budget 2018: Housing infrastructure fund to increase by £500m

The sector has always been fleet of foot and quick to react positively to changing market conditions and this is the core strength that has supported continued growth and delivery of new products to the market.

Maybe being left alone to get on with the job is actually a positive and one of the drivers that pulls us together to collaborate and deliver multi-faceted solutions to our clients.

It wasn’t that long ago, for instance, that there was no such thing as VAT funding for commercial property purchases as a standalone offering and clients had two options: turn to the main funder for help or stump up the cash.

Now, clients no longer need to panic when they have exchanged on a property and receive a call from their solicitor asking what’s happening re: the VAT element?

When necessary, funds can be made available in five to seven days and we have completed many a deal within these timeframes.