The signs of resilience and revival are plain to see. Cranes have appeared across the skylines of Scotland’s major cities as evidence of the resurgence in commercial property investment – up 10 per cent last year to £1.7bn compared to the previous year.
In-depth research by specialist lender Together, in its Cities in Focus 2025 report, highlights Glasgow as among the places leading the charge for investment in residential, offices, retail and industrial buildings.
With its distinct heritage, cultural diversity and location on the banks of the Clyde, Scotland’s largest and busiest city has been identified by property professionals as offering some of the UK’s best opportunities.
The city centre continues the biggest transformation in half a century. Leading professional services firms have taken up top-quality office accommodation, and there is demand from highly-skilled graduates for office space at innovation hubs across the city and region.
Together’s own lending data shows an increase of 31 per cent in commercial loans in Scotland between 2024 and the start of this year. Our overall Scottish lending figures in the year to the end of July show nearly £228.8m worth of new loans, with 1,520
Commercial property recovery
And beneath the surface of Scotland’s commercial property recovery lies a crucial enabler: commercial lending, and in particular, bridging finance. Once viewed as a product for clients in distress, it has become indispensable for investors and developers navigating tight timelines and complex deals and is often used as complementary to longer-term bank financing.
This short-term finance provides rapid access to capital – often within days – making it ideal for acquiring development sites, funding rental home or office refurbishments or providing finance for auction purchases where traditional lenders may not have the appetite.
Last month, for example, we provided a multi-million pound commercial bridging loan for a developer to buy the landmark 1960s Met Tower – known for its prominent pink People Make Glasgow graphic on the side of the listed former college building, which has stood empty for a decade.
Vita Group, a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) specialist developer, intends to launch its award-winning Union co-living brand, which has more than 1,600 beds in Manchester and is already proving popular with young professionals, couples and smaller households.
The developer’s plans will help to address Scotland’s chronic housing shortage and complement Glasgow City Council’s City Centre Strategy 2024–30, which seeks to double the city centre’s residential population by 2035 through repurposing empty and unloved properties.
Specialist finance for brownfield development
In Edinburgh, another of our clients, Shepha Properties, is running with this theme. Founders Niyi and Elizabeth Oludipe employ a model of using specialist finance to transform old, empty or derelict properties into high-quality living accommodation.
One project among many completed by Shepha was the conversion of a derelict office in Morningside, Edinburgh. The building had been empty for ten years and sits next to the quirky historical Wild West landmark, once an American-inspired advertisement for South Western Furniture Company, which has since become popular with tourists.
With a growing appetite for character-rich buildings and sustainable refurbishments, Scotland’s property landscape is shifting. Developers are no longer only chasing “clean square boxes” – they’re breathing new life into heritage assets. But these projects often come with planning delays, structural surprises, and funding gaps. Bridging finance can fill a void, enabling progress where conventional funding falls short.
As the market continues to evolve, the ability to move quickly and adapt will define success, and for many property investors, the journey starts with the right financial partner.
Partner Content in association with Together
Read more of the Commercial Property Review featured in the Autumn 2025 issue of The Business magazine here.
