- Bridging works
- Cosmetic to light structural
- Development works
- Ground-up, heavy conversion
- Drawdown style
- Bridging: lump sum; Dev: staged
- Monitoring
- Dev finance uses QS-monitored stages
Refurb bridging explained
A refurbishment bridge releases funds as a single drawdown (sometimes with a small works tranche) against a property needing cosmetic or light structural improvement — new kitchen, rewire, reroof. It's fast to arrange and doesn't need a quantity surveyor monitoring every stage.
Development finance explained
Development finance funds the land or existing structure plus a build cost facility released in stages, each verified by an independent monitoring surveyor as work completes. It's the correct tool for ground-up builds, heavy conversions, or anything needing planning-led phased construction.
When each option wins
Match the facility to the scope of works, not just the loan size.
- Bridging wins for cosmetic refurbishment finished in under 6 months
- Development finance wins for new-build units or major structural conversion
- Bridging wins when there's no need for staged monitoring surveyor sign-off
- Development finance wins when the build cost exceeds the current property value
Cost and control trade-offs
Development finance carries more process — QS reports, staged drawdowns, retentions — but it's built to fund the actual build cost as work progresses, protecting cashflow on larger schemes. Bridging is lighter-touch but assumes you can largely self-fund or front works before drawdown.
Getting the structure right first time
We size the facility against the actual scope: a refurbishment mis-labelled as light works but requiring building regs sign-off and structural calculations often needs a development-style facility instead. Getting this wrong at application stage causes delays or a forced remortgage mid-project.
Frequently asked
Can I use bridging for a loft conversion?
Often yes, if it doesn't require full building control phased sign-off — many loft conversions are funded as refurbishment bridges.
Does development finance need planning permission in place?
Yes, in almost all cases lenders require full planning permission or at least detailed consent before releasing funds.
Is development finance slower to arrange than bridging?
Generally, yes — appraisal of the build costs, QS reports and staged facility structuring take longer than a straightforward bridge.
Can I convert a bridging loan into development finance mid-project?
It's possible via refinance but is disruptive; better to size the facility correctly at the outset based on the true scope of works.
What size projects suit development finance rather than bridging?
As a rough guide, schemes with build costs exceeding roughly £150k–£200k or requiring staged construction usually suit development finance better.
Describe the scheme
Send us the scope of works and we'll confirm whether bridging or development finance is the correct structure before you apply.
Related reading
Situations this applies to
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