Ground up development
New houses, apartments or other property built from a cleared site or existing land.
UK property development finance
Development finance lenders UK
Find lenders suited to your project, experience and financial structure. Describe the development and DealFunder will narrow the market to a credible shortlist.
- Free to search
- No registration
- Direct lender access
Choosing a lender
Development finance must fit the whole project
A lender will assess more than the completed value. The land or site value, existing debt, total development costs, gross development value, planning position, developer contribution and experience can all affect eligibility.
DealFunder asks for these figures within the search journey. It then removes known conflicts and presents up to ten of the strongest lender matches for the information provided.
Projects lenders may fund
Finance across the development cycle
Conversions
Changing the use or layout of an existing building to create residential or commercial units.
Heavy refurbishment
Projects involving structural work, extensions, major internal changes or substantial improvement.
Part completed schemes
Developments where work has started and new funding is required to complete the project.
Land with planning
Acquiring or refinancing a site that already benefits from an acceptable planning consent.
Development exit
Replacing development finance once practical completion has been reached while units are sold or refinanced.
The main financial measures
What the lender will calculate
The total facility compared with the total cost of acquiring and delivering the development.
The total facility compared with the expected market value when the completed scheme is ready for sale or refinance.
The cash or equity committed by the developer before and during the project.
The projected margin and allowance for cost increases, delays or unexpected work.
Developer experience
First time does not always mean excluded
Some lenders require a completed development track record. Others will consider a first project when the scheme is manageable and the wider team has suitable experience.
Relevant refurbishment, construction, investment or professional experience may help. The lender will also examine the contractor, architect, quantity surveyor and other people responsible for delivery.
Check your project against lenders →Common questions
UK development finance
How much can a development finance lender provide?+
The available facility depends on the site value, total development costs, gross development value, developer contribution and the lender's maximum leverage. DealFunder collects these figures so unsuitable lenders can be removed.
Can a first time developer obtain development finance?+
Yes, some lenders consider first time developers. They may place more weight on the experience of the contractor, professional team, project size and the developer's relevant property background.
Will lenders fund 100% of the development costs?+
Some lenders can fund all eligible build costs within their overall loan to cost and loan to gross development value limits. The borrower will normally still need to contribute equity to the transaction.
Can development finance fund land without planning?+
Some lenders consider pre planning or strategic land but many development lenders require an acceptable planning consent before completion. The planning position must be stated clearly.
Can I refinance a part completed development?+
Yes, but the lender will examine why the existing facility needs replacing, work completed to date, remaining costs, current value, professional reports and whether the remaining programme is achievable.
Does DealFunder charge for the search?+
No. DealFunder is free to search. There are no registration, search or lender access fees.
Ready to narrow the market?