Explore our regeneration projects
Building better
At Octopus, we believe that finance can be a force for good. More than just loan providers, we act as catalysts for positive transformation, breathing new life into underutilised spaces and creating vibrant communities.
Explore our diverse range of case studies from across the UK; each story showcasing the power of real estate regeneration and highlighting how our flexible and innovative finance solutions unlock development potential, deliver positive social impact, and contribute to a more sustainable built environment.
Derby, East Midlands
Through our commercial and development loans, we funded the acquisition and major redevelopment of a hospital in central Derby that was formerly used but later abandoned. We used our development loan to fund 341 apartments split across five adjacent blocks, forming part of a wider development scheme of 796 homes split across a mix of apartments and houses.
The original Pepper Pot buildings that formed the original hospital entrance have been carefully maintained and restored. These will be transformed into a gym and a restaurant for the new community.
Commercial loan
- Loan size: £8,225,000
- Number of beds: c.1,500
- Sector: Healthcare to Residential with Commercial
- Purpose: Acquisition
Development loan
- Loan size: £22,139,000
- Number of beds: 422
- Sector: Healthcare to Residential with Commercial
- Purpose: Ground-up development
Before
After
Before
Nottingham, East Midlands
A 707-bed Purpose-Built Student Accommodation development was constructed on this site, previously occupied by industrial buildings. Our commercial loan facilitated the purchase of the site. The final development incorporates a number of carbon-reducing features and provides students in Nottingham with access to more suitable student accommodation.
Commercial loan
- Loan size: £10,908,000
- Number of beds: 707
- Sector: Industrial to Purpose-Built Student Accommodation
- Purpose: Acquisition
After
Clapham, South West London
A freehold former industrial site and terraced house in Clapham, a prime South West London residential location, was converted with this loan. Once completed, the development will have 297 flats, including 87 affordable units, 31,248 sq. ft of office space, and a café.
Commercial loan
- Loan size: £29,447,250
- Number of beds: 380
- Sector: Industrial to Residential with Office
- Purpose: Refinance
Before
After
Before
Isle of Dogs, East London
With this loan, a part-vacant office building in the Docklands was acquired and converted into a residential property with 63 residential units. The property is in the Isle of Dogs Opportunity Area, with the potential for over 10,000 new homes and 110,000 new jobs.
Commercial loan
- Loan size: £13,495,024
- Number of beds: 99
- Sector: Office to Residential
- Purpose: Equity Release
After
Manchester, North West
Our commercial loan facilitated the refinance of two development sites within a larger area that forms part of St John’s Manchester, a creative quarter transforming the former site of Granada TV studios. The total development includes 1.3m sq. ft. of office space and residential accommodation.
Commercial loan
- Loan size: £8,520,563
- Number of beds: 400
- Sector: Industrial to Residential with Office
- Purpose: Refinance
Before
After
Before
Berkshire, South East
In Newbury, four derelict industrial buildings, including a former petrol station, were transformed into 26 apartments with the help of the loan. This scheme added much-needed housing to the area and involved renovating some existing buildings, removing unused buildings and decontaminating the soil.
Development loan
- Loan size: £4,090,000
- Number of beds: 42
- Sector: Industrial to Residential
- Purpose: Ground-up development
After
Brighton, South East
A vacant, dilapidated Victorian villa was transformed into nine apartments thanks to this loan. The villa had been neglected for 10 years and was located near the city centre in Brighton, in an area in need of regeneration.
Development loan
- Loan size: £1,624,000
- Number of beds: 17
- Sector: Residential
- Purpose: Conversion/Renovation
Before
After
Before
Bristol, South West
Located within the neighbourhood of St Pauls, East Bristol, this 0.16-hectare plot previously contained three buildings. Our development loan facilitated the construction of a 225-bed Purpose-Built Student Accommodation block, with commercial space including a café, gym and office space. This development contributes to bridge the student housing shortage in Bristol, home to two major universities.
Development loan
- Loan size: £15,993,000
- Number of beds: 225
- Sector: Industrial to Purpose-Built Student Accommodation with Commercial & Office
- Purpose: Ground-up development
After
Exeter, South West
A vacant former House of Fraser store in Exeter city centre was acquired with this loan. The store had planning permission for conversion to a 104-bedroom hotel with retail and leisure units on the ground floor. When the loan was granted, Exeter city centre had no other hotels due to a fire that permanently closed the Royal Clarence Hotel in 2016. This loan helped to refurbish the building and offer much-needed accommodation in the area.
Commercial loan
- Loan size: £7,938,681
- Number of beds: 104
- Sector: Retail to Hotel
- Purpose: Acquisition
Before
After
Before
Poole, South West
A former industrial site and car park in Poole transformed into 291 residential apartments overlooking the harbour. The commercial loan was used to refinance an existing lender, and our Development Lending team provided development finance to a borrower who had acquired the land from our commercial customer.
Commercial loan
- Loan size: £7,260,000
- Number of beds: 586
- Sector: Industrial to Residential
- Purpose: Refinance
Development loan
- Loan size: £70,405,000
- Number of beds: 586
- Sector: Industrial to Residential
- Purpose: Ground-up development
After
York, North Yorkshire
A redundant former gas works site, which included a decommissioned gas holder, was the original composition of the site. The loan facility was used for site acquisition, clean-up, and infrastructure works. The development scheme, which includes 625 residential units, retail units, and a community-use floorspace, is expected to transform the previously redundant area once finished.
Commercial loan
- Loan size: £15,006,607
- Number of beds: 928
- Sector: Industrial to Residential
- Purpose: Refinance & Acquisition
Before
After
Before
Leeds, West Yorkshire
In the Leeds Docks area – a brownfield, former industrial area – the loan funded a ground-up construction of 247 residential units, six commercial units and car parking spaces. The homes are net-zero carbon, highly efficient and sustainably built using modular volumetric construction. The development is part of the Climate Innovation District, a wider scheme that cultivates a growing inner-city community that draws young families and stimulates social interaction and outdoor engagement.
Development loan
- Loan size: £25,855,000
- Number of beds: 480
- Sector: Brownfield site to Residential with Commercial
- Purpose: Ground-up Development
After
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