Commercial Finance
Development Finance for Build, Conversion and Refurbishment
Staged funding for ground-up schemes, conversions and heavy refurbishment. Land and build costs funded in drawdowns against surveyor sign-off, with the exit — sale or refinance — planned before the first spade goes in.
- Founder-led brokerage
- Ormskirk based · UK-wide
- Broad panel of commercial lenders
Funding That Follows the Build
Development finance works differently from a mortgage. A lender typically funds a share of the land purchase and then releases build costs in stages, drawn against a monitoring surveyor’s certification of the work completed on site.
Facilities are usually sized against gross development value and total cost — commonly up to around 65% of GDV or 85% to 90% of total costs. Interest is normally rolled up and settled on exit, so the scheme is not paying monthly out of cash flow while it is under construction.
Lenders back the scheme and the team in equal measure: planning position, build contract, contingency, professional team and your track record. First-time developers can absolutely be funded, usually with a strong contractor and a more conservative structure — we will tell you what your case needs before it goes anywhere near an underwriter.
Explore Your Finance Options
Schemes We Fund
Development lending covers:
- Ground-up residential and mixed-use developments
- Commercial-to-residential conversions and permitted development
- Heavy refurbishment and structural remodelling
- Land purchase with and without planning
- Multi-unit sites and small housing schemes
- Developer exit finance to reduce cost after practical completion
What This Means for You
Capital stays in the scheme
Rolled-up interest and staged drawdowns mean the project is not draining working capital while it is being built.
Leverage that funds more sites
Sensible gearing lets you run a second scheme rather than tying every pound into one.
The right lender for the risk
Appetite varies enormously by region, scheme type and experience — the difference between a yes and a decline is often lender choice.
An exit arranged in advance
We line up sale strategy or term refinance early, including developer exit finance to cut cost once units are complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of the project cost will a lender fund?
Many development lenders will consider up to around 65% of gross development value, or 85% to 90% of total project costs including land and build, whichever is the lower figure — but appetite varies widely by lender, scheme, region and experience. In practice a developer usually needs to put in the land equity or a meaningful cash contribution, and lenders will normally expect a contingency on top of the build budget. Treat any figure as indicative until terms are issued.
Can I get development finance as a first-time developer?
Yes, though the structure will be more conservative. Lenders will want an experienced main contractor, a quantity surveyor or project manager on the team, and usually a straightforward scheme rather than a complex one. Relevant background — trades, construction, property investment — counts for a great deal, so we present it properly.
What happens if the build overruns or costs rise?
This is why contingency exists and why lender choice matters. Most facilities include a contingency line, and reasonable extensions can usually be negotiated where the scheme is fundamentally sound — but extension fees and default rates vary enormously between lenders. We check those terms at the outset, because they are the ones that bite when a programme slips.
Request a Callback
Send us the site, the planning position and your appraisal — we will tell you what is fundable and where the numbers need work.