MIPIM: The number of active European real estate lenders has increased by 29%, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

The agent's European Real Estate Lending Survey 2013 was unveiled today in Cannes.

For the survey, 109 leading global real estate finance providers were interviewed to assess lending appetite and assist in identifying key trends that will shape the European finance market this year.

According to the report, the number of active lenders - encompassing senior, stretch senior and mezzanine debt lenders based in multiple markets across Europe - that are open for both new business and to existing customers has increased by 29% since Q1 2012.

However, with many of these active lenders continuing to focus on prime assets located in core markets, the lending criteria in the main remains rigid and selective.

Some lenders are willing to consider non-core markets and sectors but the margins demanded are considerably higher, said the report.

Cushman's EMEA head of corporate finance, Michael Lindsay, said: "The European real estate lending landscape remains dominated by the mainstream UK and German banks but more recent market entrants - especially those from the US - have started to make their mark.

"The final quarter of 2012 and Q1 2013 witnessed a significant improvement in lending conditions; for the right assets, healthy competition exists among lenders, which is delivering pricing not seen since before the financial crisis."