Development Finance
Development finance is specialist funding for property development projects including ground-up new builds, heavy refurbishments, permitted development conversions, and change-of-use projects. Unlike standard mortgages — which lend against the current value of a property — development finance is structured as a drawn-down facility assessed against the Gross Development Value (GDV) of the completed project.
CapitalNow arranges development finance from £100,000 to £25 million, typically up to 65–70% of GDV and up to 90% of build costs, with rates from 8–12% per annum depending on project type, LTV, and developer experience.


How our service works?
- Tailored to your project: Funding is customised to suit the scale and scope of your development.
- Staged funding: Access funds in alignment with project milestones, limiting unnecessary costs.
- Flexibility: Suitable for residential and commercial projects, including new builds, refurbishments, and land purchases.
- Expert guidance: Benefit from our extensive experience in navigating the complexities of property development finance.
What Can Development Financing Cover?
New Builds
Renovations and Conversions
Land Acquisition
Bridging Development Gaps
Development Finance Frequently asked questions
What is property development finance, and who is it for?
Funding for property development finance exists to support property building and renovation costs. Property development finance provides valuable support for property developers, investors, landowners, new builders and SMEs who undertake ground-up developments and construct residential or commercial properties.
The funding allows for expenditure on property land purchases along with building construction activities and fees for professionals. Projects have access to loans that vary between £50,000 and multiple millions based on their size and requirements. Development finance provides customised solutions to help you advance your projects whether they involve constructing residential blocks or handling commercial property renovations.
Specialist lenders review elements such as planning permissions and development project costs along with your development experience to set loan eligibility criteria and loan terms.
How do staged drawdowns work in development finance?
Funding through staged drawdowns allows money to be released according to the advancement of your construction project. The lender disburses loan funds in tranches based on the completion of predefined project milestones such as land acquisition and foundation work.
The lender performs a site inspection before each drawdown to ensure the project follows its original timeline and plan. You benefit from this process as it aligns your funding with construction schedules and minimises interest payments since interest applies only to released funds.
Developers overseeing extensive projects or projects with multiple phases find staged drawdowns advantageous because they allow better cash flow management while guaranteeing timely access to necessary funds.
What do lenders look for when approving development loans?
When reviewing property development loan applications lenders consider multiple important criteria. Lenders start by examining your development background but first-time builders can obtain finance through proper assistance or through collaboration with an experienced builder.
Lenders require planning permission because it demonstrates that the project complies with local regulations. Financial institutions require developers to present a defined exit strategy like unit sales or loan refinancing to guarantee loan payback.
Project feasibility requires the establishment of strong cost budgets along with detailed timelines. Financial institutions usually require borrowers to make a personal financial commitment which often includes a percentage stake in either the land or construction expenditures. Submitting a robust and thoroughly prepared application boosts your likelihood of receiving approval.
What are the advantages of using a broker for property development finance?
A property development finance broker provides essential guidance when dealing with intricate lending choices. Specialist lenders such as boutique financiers and banks offer brokers access to better funding terms and niche solutions which direct applicants cannot obtain.
Brokers design financial solutions that perfectly match your project requirements whether you need residential development funding or construction finance and bridging and development loans. Brokers take charge of negotiations to secure competitive interest rates and beneficial terms while saving you valuable time and resources.
Brokers provide guidance to first-time developers throughout the funding application process by making requirements easier to understand and delivering expert advice to enhance your proposal. Leveraging their expertise in the industry enables brokers to tip the scales toward approval rather than rejection which boosts your confidence to progress with your project.
Contact us to discuss development loans
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