Bridging specialist West One Loans is expanding its buy-to-let division as part of growth plans for the year ahead.

To facilitate this West One has made three senior appointments to help manage relationships with mortgage clubs and networks and ensure the BTL proposition is more accessible to the broader intermediary market.

West One has appointed Jason James, who joins from Bluestone Mortgages, as national account manager. It has also hired Kitt Makwana, who previously worked for  Together, as a new key account manager.

In addition the firm has also hired Paul Huxter from Enterprise to support the distribution extension strategy.

West One says it will be expanding the team further and is currently looking to fill a number of support roles.

West One Loans managing director of BTL Andrew Ferguson says: “The buy-to-let division has strong growth ambitions for 2021, and these additions to the team are a key part of that strategy.

“We are keen to expand our distribution through networks and mortgage clubs, in order to take full advantage of the opportunities for the specialist sector in 2021.

“Brokers will now be able to transact with us in the manner they choose, either directly through our new channels or through one of our master broker partners.”

West One Loans was founded in 2005 and in November completed a securitisation worth £267.8m with a portfolio of loans split between second charge mortgages and first charge buy-to-let mortgages.

West One Loans completed a brand refresh last month with a redesigned website which now carries improved detail on the product ranges available.