Own Your Manor Royal Unit with Just 15% Down

Most businesses on Manor Royal rent. A government guarantee means some lenders will now lend 85% to buy the building you trade from. By David Farmer, Lime Finance Solutions.

I've been arranging business finance from our office on Priestley Way for years. So when I walk around Manor Royal, I can't help doing the maths.

Here's a question I ask a lot of local business owners. How much rent have you paid on your unit in the last ten years?

Most haven't added it up. When they do, they go a bit quiet. Then comes the obvious follow-up. "So why don't I own it?"

The usual answer is the deposit. Banks have long wanted 25% to 30% down on business premises. For a £500,000 unit, that's up to £150,000 sat in bricks and mortar instead of working in the business.

That's changing. And I don't think enough people on the estate have noticed.

Manor Royal: built on businesses like yours

Manor Royal is one of the South East's biggest business districts. It's home to over 600 businesses and around 32,800 jobs, roughly a quarter of all jobs in Crawley. There's more than 9 million sq ft of commercial space across about 540 acres (Manor Royal BID, Economic Impact Study).

Plenty of those firms are small, steady and built to last. Engineers, fabricators, trade counters, labs, logistics and service firms. Exactly the businesses the Growth Guarantee Scheme was designed for. And many of them are tenants.

What's changed

The Growth Guarantee Scheme is run by the British Business Bank. The government guarantees 70% of a loan to the lender. That makes the lender braver. It doesn't make the loan free, and you still owe every penny. Think of it like a guarantor on a tenancy.

Most people think of it as a working capital loan. But it can also sit behind a commercial mortgage on the building your business trades from. I wrote about this in The Growth Guarantee Scheme Just Got Bigger.

With 70% of the loan guaranteed, some accredited lenders will now stretch to 85% of the property's value. That's 15% down, not 25% to 30%.

In July 2026 the Chancellor expanded the scheme. There's a further £6.5bn of lending over four years, the guarantee now runs ten years instead of six on loans up to £1.1m, and the turnover limit rises from £45m to £54m.

Quick myth to bust. Ten years is how long the guarantee lasts, not how long your mortgage runs. Many lenders will happily lend over a longer term.

What 85% looks like in real money

Take a £500,000 unit your business already trades from.

That's £50,000 that stays in your bank. It could pay for a new van, a couple of hires or a bit of breathing space. Your cash stays in the business. Where it belongs.

Now look at rent. Refurbished units around Gatwick are quoted at roughly £13 to £15 per sq ft, with new builds up to £19 (Vail Williams). One Manor Royal warehouse of about 13,700 sq ft is currently marketed at £14 per sq ft. That's around £192,000 a year in rent, and you own none of it at the end.

Want to run your own numbers? Try our commercial mortgage calculator.

When your landlord mentions selling

If your landlord ever says they're thinking of selling, don't panic. That's a door opening, not a threat.

More businesses than ever are buying the buildings they work from:

• 45% of UK commercial property is now owner-occupied (Property Industry Alliance).
• 35% of regional office investment in 2025 came from owner-occupiers, the most active buyer group (Savills).
• Up to 37% cheaper to own than rent, as mortgage payments can come in below the rent on the same building (Mortgage Professional).
• Agents report strong interest in Crawley freeholds from owner-occupiers wanting to come out of their leases (Vail Williams).

Why would a landlord sell to the tenant? It's often the cleanest sale going. No void period. No marketing. No battle for vacant possession under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. And a buyer who already knows the building inside out.

There's pressure on landlords too. Proposed energy rules would require rented commercial buildings to reach an EPC C by 2027 and a B by 2030. For a landlord facing a big retrofit bill on an older Manor Royal unit, selling to the sitting tenant can look very sensible. More on that in Why 2026 Could Be the Year Landlords Sell to Their Tenants.

The catch has always been the tenant's deposit. At 85%, that catch gets a lot smaller.

What owning does for your business

• No more rent reviews. Your biggest overhead stops creeping up.
• You build an asset. Every payment goes towards a building you own, not your landlord's pension.
• Nobody can move you on. No lease expiry, no break clause, no surprise redevelopment.
• Your cash stays put. A 15% deposit leaves money for stock, staff and growth.
• A stronger balance sheet. Property on the books can help when you next need to borrow.

In cricket terms, it's not a slog for the boundary. It's the well-run single that quietly builds an innings. A building you own is still yours in 2040.

Good to know

• Trading premises only. Your business must trade from the building. No buy-to-let.
• Not every lender goes to 85%. It depends on your sector, your numbers and the building. Same building, three lenders, three different offers explains why that matters.
• You still owe the lot. The guarantee protects the lender, not you.
• Your home is safe. Lenders can't take your main home as security under the scheme.
• Personal guarantees. Some lenders may still ask. They can be insured.
• Up to £2m per business group, and turnover under £54m.
• Allow time. Property deals usually take two to three months. Start early.

Already borrowing? The same scheme can help restructure existing debt onto better terms.

Renting on Manor Royal? Let's see if 85% works for you

We're just down the road at The Rutherford Centre on Priestley Way. Tell me about the business and the building. I'll run the numbers and tell you straight if it's worth a go. No pressure, no jargon and happy to do it over a coffee.

01293 541333 · hello@lime-fs.com · Book a call

About the author. David Farmer founded Lime Finance Solutions in 2012. A former credit underwriter with over 30 years in commercial finance, he arranges commercial mortgages and property finance in Crawley and Gatwick, and across Sussex, Surrey and beyond.

Lime Finance Solutions is a trading name of Lime Coaching & Consultancy Ltd. Registered in England No. 07975038. The Rutherford Centre, Priestley Way, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9RU. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 726314. We are a credit broker, not a lender. All lending is subject to status and the lender's own criteria. Loan to value of up to 85% is available from selected accredited lenders only and depends on your business, sector and the property. Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it.