First-Time Property Developer Hub

A comprehensive checklist covering every document lenders require for a development finance application, from development appraisals to contractor tenders and planning evidence.

Your development appraisal is the single most important document in a finance application. This guide shows you exactly how to structure it so lenders say yes.

Lenders need to be confident your build costs are realistic. This guide explains the types of cost evidence accepted, how to present them, and current cost benchmarks across the UK.

A guide to paying for the planning stage of a development, from application fees and consultants' reports to interest and holding costs on the land, and how to time your finance approach around the decision.

Most development finance lenders require two to three contractor tenders. This guide explains how to run a tender process that satisfies lenders and delivers competitive pricing.

A guide to how development lenders check the credit of directors, shareholders and guarantors, what they weigh most heavily and the checks you should run on your own file before you apply.

Understanding the development finance timeline helps you plan your project effectively. This guide breaks down every stage from initial enquiry to first drawdown, with realistic timeframes.

A guide to how much equity development lenders require, how the figure follows from LTGDV and loan-to-cost limits, and how experience, scheme type and mezzanine change the amount you need to put in.

Commercial-to-residential conversions are among the most popular development strategies in the UK. This guide covers how to finance them, from permitted development to full planning applications.

Multi-unit residential developments represent the core of the UK development finance market. This guide explains how to structure finance for schemes of 5 to 50 units, covering everything from appraisal to exit.

Ground-up development finance funds new construction from vacant land to completed buildings. This guide explains how these facilities work, what they cost, and how to secure the best terms.

Large development sites are often built in phases. This guide explains how to structure finance for multi-phase projects, including capital recycling, inter-phase funding gaps, and lender expectations.

Many development projects involve partnerships or companies with multiple directors. This guide explains how lenders assess joint borrower applications and how to structure them for the best outcome.

If you already own your development site, second charge finance allows you to release equity and fund construction without remortgaging. This guide explains when it works and how to structure it.

A decision in principle gives you confidence to bid on sites and negotiate with vendors. This guide explains how pre-approval works, what it commits the lender to, and how to use it strategically.

A guide to getting a development funded with adverse credit, covering how CCJs, defaults, IVAs and bankruptcy change your options, the specialist lenders and structures available and how to present your history.

A guide to funding a site purchase before planning is granted, covering bridging against existing-use value, conditional contracts and options, how to show planning viability and the switch to development finance once consent arrives.

A practical playbook for a first development scheme, from choosing a modest first project and assembling your team to securing finance, drawing funds during the build and repaying the lender at exit.

The definitive guide to UK property development loans: what development finance is, who lends it, how much you can borrow, how drawdowns, monitoring and rolled-up interest work, what it costs, and a fully worked four-house example.

Development Finance Calculator

Calculate senior debt, equity, interest costs and profit for your development project.

Development Profit Calculator

Estimate gross and net profit, profit on cost and profit per unit for a residential development.

Build Cost Estimator

Estimate total build costs by project type, specification level and region using BCIS benchmarks.

SDLT Calculator

Calculate Stamp Duty Land Tax for residential, commercial and additional property purchases.

Arrangement Fee Calculator

Calculate the true cost of arrangement fees when added to the loan, deducted from advance or paid upfront.