Real estate

Commercial real estate is not rebounding in the way previous cycles have conditioned us to expect. It is recalibrating.

With capital markets still adjusting, occupier behaviour evolving and asset performance under sharper scrutiny, 2026 is shaping up to be a year defined by discipline, execution and selective risk-taking.

OakNorth recently co-hosted a breakfast event with the Adam Smith Institute, exploring how Urban Development Corporations could help deliver more homes and unlock growth in Britain’s cities. The discussion highlighted the need for better planning, stronger coordination, and long-term investment to solve the UK’s housing crisis.

The UK’s residential development landscape in 2025 is defined by complexity. While appetite remains strong, the journey from site acquisition to delivery is not always straightforward. Developers are operating in a high-cost, high-risk environment, navigating tighter margins, shifting regulations, and slower buyer demand.

For ambitious UK businesses, breaking into the US market can be game-changing. With a population of over 340 million and accounting for around a quarter of global GDP in 2024, the United States represents an incredibly attractive growth opportunity — one defined by scale, innovation, and potential reach.

As we look ahead to 2025, the UK’s commercial real estate landscape reveals key opportunities and trends, specifically within the office and retail spaces. In our recent webinar, hosted by Director of Debt Finance, Greg Manson, industry experts Ben Holmes of Ashfield Land and Elliot Stern of Compton shared valuable insights on how tenant expectations, […]

By Hemesh Patel, Director, Property Finance at OakNorth Last week, I published a blog looking at how the UK residential sector could be impacted by potential announcements in the Autumn Budget. Yesterday, the Chancellor delivered her Budget, bringing significant changes for property developers, investors, and SME housebuilders. These initiatives, which include adjustments to stamp duty, […]