ccConstruction Capital

Independent London brokerage. 25+ years of property-finance experience, distilled into one principal.

+44 20 3816 3693matt.lenzie@construction-capital.co.uk

London, United Kingdom

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Construction Capital is an independent commercial finance brokerage arranging funding for UK property developers and investors. Property development finance, commercial bridging and other business-purpose lending are not regulated activities under FSMA 2000 and are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Where a product is a regulated activity — for example, bridging secured on a borrower’s main residence — we arrange it through lenders who hold the relevant FCA permissions. We are not an FCA-authorised firm. Every offer is subject to the lender’s underwriting, valuation and legal due diligence.

Construction Capital is a trading name of Lenzie Consulting Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales under company number 08174104. Registered office: Lynch Farm, The Lynch, Kensworth, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU6 3QZ.

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  1. Home/
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  4. Wells/
  5. Bridging Loans

Wells, Somerset

Bridging Loans
in Wells

Bridging loans provide rapid access to capital when speed is critical. Whether purchasing at auction, securing a site before planning, or bridging a gap between transactions, funds can be available within days.

Get bridging loans termsOr call +44 20 3816 3693
Royal Crescent in Bath with green lawn

Wells, Somerset

Bridging Loans
in Wells.

With a median property price of £335,000 in Wells, a typical bridging facility at 75% LTV would provide £251,250 for an acquisition. The area's 248 annual transactions provide strong resale evidence, giving bridging lenders confidence in exit valuations whether you plan to sell, refinance, or develop.

The bridging market has bifurcated into two distinct segments: high-volume, technology-driven lenders who can process straightforward residential bridges very quickly at competitive rates, and specialist bridgers who handle complex situations - title issues, non-standard construction, unusual tenancies - where mainstream options fall short.

Interest on bridging loans can be structured as retained (deducted from the gross loan advance), serviced (paid monthly), or rolled up (added to the loan balance). Retained interest is most common for short-term facilities, while rolled-up interest suits longer-term bridges where you want to minimise monthly outgoings during a refurbishment or planning period.

Second-charge bridging is available for borrowers who have existing mortgage debt and need additional capital without disturbing their first-charge facility. This is particularly useful for experienced landlords who want to release equity from their portfolio to fund acquisitions, without refinancing their existing, often favourably priced, mortgage.

Bristol's Temple Quarter regeneration, Bath's enterprise zone, and Exeter's growing reputation as a biomedical hub are all generating development opportunities. Lenders recognise the South West's diverse market dynamics - from urban regeneration to rural conversion projects - and several specialist funders actively target the region.

Bridging finance in Wells serves a wide range of property strategies. Investors use bridging loans to secure below-market-value properties at auction before the competition, developers use bridge-to-development structures to control sites while planning is secured, and landlords use refurbishment bridges to add value before refinancing onto buy-to-let mortgages at higher valuations. Each strategy requires a lender who understands the specific use case and can move at the pace required.

Our role as your bridging loan broker is to match the urgency of your transaction with a lender who can deliver. For auction purchases in Somerset, this means pre-agreed terms, same-day valuation instructions, and a legal process that completes within the auction deadline. For less time-pressured acquisitions, we negotiate the most competitive rate and LTV from our panel, ensuring you do not pay more than necessary for the speed premium that bridging provides.

Why Choose a Bridging Loan Broker in Wells?

Speed and certainty define the bridging loan market. When you need to complete a property acquisition in Wells within days rather than weeks, having a broker who can access the right lender immediately makes the difference between securing a deal and losing it. We arrange bridging finance from specialist lenders who can issue terms within hours and complete in as little as 5-7 working days. At a median property price of £335,000 in Wells, a typical bridging facility at 75% LTV would provide approximately £251,250.

The bridging market has expanded significantly, with dozens of lenders offering products that vary widely in pricing, speed, flexibility, and appetite for complex situations. Navigating this market without a broker means approaching lenders individually, each requiring a full application before providing terms. As experienced bridging loan brokers serving Somerset, we know which lenders are fastest, which accept non-standard properties, and which offer the most competitive rates for your specific scenario.

Whether you are purchasing at auction, securing a time-sensitive site acquisition, breaking a property chain, or funding a short-term hold before refinancing onto a longer-term mortgage, our panel of 100+ lenders includes specialist bridging providers who can deliver. Submit your project for same-day indicative terms.

The live Mendip District Council (legacy portal) planning register currently shows 110 residential applications awaiting decision in Wells, together proposing 179 units. The largest — at Former Greencore Factory Prestleigh Road Evercreech Shepton Mallet Somerset BA4 6JZ — proposes 110 units. That pipeline is a useful gauge of both local competition and lender familiarity with Wells schemes.

On a typical Wells asset at the £335,000 median, a 70% LTV bridge equates to around £234,000 — with completion possible in days rather than weeks where the legal pack is ready.

Types of Bridging Finance Available in Somerset

We arrange the full range of bridging products across Somerset: first-charge residential bridging for straightforward acquisitions, second-charge bridges for borrowers who need additional capital without disturbing an existing mortgage, commercial bridging for offices, retail, and industrial property, and regulated bridging for properties you or a family member will occupy. Each product type has different lender options and pricing structures.

Popular bridging use cases in Wells include auction purchases (where you typically have 28 days to complete), chain-break funding to secure your next property before selling your current one, bridge-to-development strategies where you acquire a site on a short-term facility before refinancing onto development finance, and refurbishment bridging that combines acquisition funding with a facility for light works before refinancing onto a buy-to-let mortgage at a higher value.

Use our finance calculator to model your bridging costs and exit strategy before approaching lenders. Understanding the total cost of your bridge, including interest, arrangement fees, and exit costs, helps you make informed decisions about when bridging is the right solution.

The bridging market serving Wells runs from specialist lenders such as Together, LendInvest, and United Trust Bank through to the high-street banks' short-term products. Beyond a standard first-charge bridge, the same market covers second charge lending, auction finance with 28-day completion deadlines, and bridge-to-buy-to-let structures where the exit is a rental refinance.

Bridging Loan Rates and Costs in Wells

Bridging loan interest rates for Wells properties typically start from 0.55% per month (6.6% per annum) for straightforward residential assets with clean title and a strong exit strategy. Commercial bridging and more complex situations attract rates from 0.65-0.85% per month. These rates are significantly lower than they were five years ago, reflecting the maturity and competitiveness of the bridging market.

Additional costs include arrangement fees (typically 1-2% of the gross loan), valuation fees, legal costs for both borrower and lender solicitors, and potentially exit fees (though these are increasingly rare among competitive lenders). Interest can be structured as retained (deducted from the loan advance upfront), serviced (paid monthly), or rolled up (added to the loan balance). For most short-term bridges in Somerset, retained interest is the standard approach.

The maximum LTV on bridging loans is typically 70-75% for residential property and 65-70% for commercial assets. Some specialist lenders offer higher leverage for specific scenarios, particularly where the exit strategy is strong and the property is in a liquid location. Our role as your broker is to secure the best combination of rate, LTV, speed, and flexibility from across the market.

Eligibility for Bridging Finance

Bridging lenders are primarily concerned with two things: the property (its value, condition, and saleability) and the exit strategy (how and when you will repay the loan). Your personal income is less important than in traditional mortgage lending, making bridging accessible to borrowers who may not meet conventional lending criteria. The Financial Conduct Authority regulates bridging loans on properties the borrower will occupy, which adds consumer protections but can extend timescales.

Acceptable exit strategies include the sale of the bridged property, refinancing onto a term mortgage or development finance facility, the sale of another property in your portfolio, or the receipt of other funds (inheritance, business sale proceeds, etc.). The more certain and documented your exit, the better your available terms. Lenders serving Wells typically want evidence that your exit is achievable within the proposed loan term.

Properties that can be bridged include standard residential houses and flats, HMOs, commercial premises, mixed-use buildings, land (with or without planning permission), and non-standard construction. Some restrictions apply to properties in very poor condition or with serious title defects, but specialist bridging lenders in our panel handle situations that mainstream funders cannot.

Live market data

Wells
market snapshot.

HM Land Registry sold-price data for Wells over the last twelve months, alongside the live local planning pipeline. Updated weekly.

Median price
£335,000
Sales (12m)
248
YoY change
+1.5%
Pipeline units
200
Pipeline GDV
£67.9M

Planning pipeline

Planning activity
in Wells.

110 residential applications awaiting decision
·179 units in pipeline·£60.8M estimated GDV

Current Applications

RefProposalUnitsEst. GDVStatusDate
2026/1497/FUL

Single Storey Whole life, accessible but adaptable dwelling

Land At 359955 141229 Neat Lane Pilton Shepton Mallet Somerset

--Pending05/08/2026
2026/1489/FUL

Retrospective application for the enlargement of an agricultural vehicular acces…

Land At 366975 148892 Edford Hill Holcombe Radstock Somerset

--Pending04/08/2026
2026/1478/PAP

Prior Approval for power related development.

Land At 348987 138857 Thomas Way Glastonbury Somerset

--Pending04/08/2026
2026/1460/FUL

Conversion and extension of an existing outbuilding to create a dwelling.

Outbuilding The Batch Draycott Cheddar Somerset

1£335,000Pending31/07/2026
2026/1456/LBC

Internal and external alterations, erection of external store and erection of re…

Gemini House Long Street Croscombe Shepton Mallet Somerset BA5 3QH

--Pending31/07/2026

Deal intelligence

Key schemes
in Wells.

Indicative appraisals of the largest residential schemes in the Wells planning pipeline (all currently awaiting decision). These 3 schemes represent an estimated £48.9M in combined GDV across 137 units, with indicative capital stacks for each.

Demolition & New Build Awaiting decision

Former Greencore Factory Prestleigh Road Evercreech Shepton Mallet Somerset BA4 6JZ

£38.7M

Estimated GDV

Units

110

GDV / Unit

£352k

Build Cost (Range)

£15.3M–£19.4M

Residual Land Value

£4.9M

GDV estimated from the HM Land Registry blended median of £335,000 plus a 5% new-build premium (assumed). At benchmark build costs, the implied residual land value is £4,933,000 (£45k/unit) after a 17.5% developer profit target. Calculate GDV

Gross Development Value£38.7M
Construction (7,480 sqm @ £2,330/sqm mid)−£17.4M
Externals, fees & contingency−£5.1M
Finance (65% LTGDV, 24m) & sales costs−£4.4M
Developer profit target (17.5% on GDV)−£6.8M
Implied residual land value£4.9M

Indicative Capital Stack

Senior Debt60% (£23.2M)Mezzanine20% (£7.7M)Developer Equity20% (£7.7M)

Broker insight: A scheme of this scale would typically attract competitive senior development finance at 60-65% LTGDV with mezzanine stretching to 85% LTGDV. Phased drawdowns reduce interest costs. Consider development exit finance to manage sales at your pace.

Get Terms for This Scheme
Appraise this dealSDLT CalculatorS106 / CILBlended Cost
Residential Development Awaiting decision

Land At 362977 147235 Chapelfield Oakhill Shepton Mallet Somerset

£8.1M

Estimated GDV

Units

23

GDV / Unit

£352k

Build Cost (Range)

£4.0M–£5.1M

Residual Land Value

Tight

GDV estimated from the HM Land Registry blended median of £335,000 plus a 5% new-build premium (assumed). At benchmark build costs and a 17.5% profit target, viability is tight - land would need to be secured well below prevailing values for this scheme to appraise. Calculate GDV

Gross Development Value£8.1M
Construction (1,955 sqm @ £2,330/sqm mid)−£4.6M
Externals, fees & contingency−£1.2M
Finance (65% LTGDV, 18m) & sales costs−£800k
Developer profit target (17.5% on GDV)−£1.4M
Implied residual land valueMarginal

Indicative Capital Stack

Senior Debt60% (£4.9M)Mezzanine20% (£1.6M)Developer Equity20% (£1.6M)

Broker insight: For a 23-unit scheme in Wells, we would typically structure senior debt at 60-65% LTGDV with mezzanine available to reduce equity to as little as 10%. Run an appraisal to model your returns.

Get Terms for This Scheme
Appraise this dealSDLT CalculatorS106 / CILBlended Cost
Small-Scale Development Awaiting decision

Land Centred 351663 147192 Easton Hill Easton Wells Somerset

£2.1M

Estimated GDV

Units

4

GDV / Unit

£538k

Build Cost (Range)

£630k–£799k

Residual Land Value

£689k

GDV estimated from the HM Land Registry detached house median of £537,500. At benchmark build costs, the implied residual land value is £689,000 (£172k/unit) after a 17.5% developer profit target. Calculate GDV

Gross Development Value£2.1M
Construction (496 sqm @ £1,440/sqm mid)−£714k
Externals, fees & contingency−£193k
Finance (65% LTGDV, 12m) & sales costs−£178k
Developer profit target (17.5% on GDV)−£376k
Implied residual land value£689k

Indicative Capital Stack

Senior Debt70% (£1.5M)Mezzanine15% (£323k)Developer Equity15% (£323k)

Broker insight: For a 4-unit scheme in Wells, we would typically structure senior debt at 60-65% LTGDV with mezzanine available to reduce equity to as little as 10%. Run an appraisal to model your returns.

Get Terms for This Scheme
Appraise this dealSDLT CalculatorS106 / CILBlended Cost

Appraisal assumptions

  • GDV: HM Land Registry blended median of £335,000 plus a 5% new-build premium (assumed).
  • Build cost: £2,050-£2,600/sqm (new build, indicative range informed by BCIS regional tender-price data, 2025/26) × 68 sqm/unit (NDSS-derived).
  • On-costs: externals 12.5%, professional fees 10%, contingency 5%, sales & legals 3.5000000000000004% of GDV. Excludes CIL/Section 106, which vary by charging schedule and scheme.
  • Finance: senior facility at 65% LTGDV, 8.5% pa on an average 57.49999999999999% drawdown over 24 months, plus 2.5% arrangement and exit fees.
  • Residual land value assumes the industry-standard 17.5% developer profit-on-GDV target. Indicative appraisal, not a valuation or lending offer.
Submit Your SchemeView full Wells market dataSomerset market report

Land Registry data

Recent property sales
in Wells.

248 residential transactions in the last twelve months. Median sold price £335,000 (+1.5% YoY)

Detached

£537,500

Semi-Detached

£323,750

Terraced

£300,000

Flat

£186,000

DateAddressTypePriceTenure
16 Jun 202620, BURCOTT ROADBA5 2EQTerraced£375,000Freehold
12 Jun 2026FLAT 2, PALACE COURT, SILVER STREETBA5 1URFlat£107,500Leasehold
12 Jun 2026THE OLD CIDER HOUSEBA5 1RQTerraced£254,000Freehold
12 Jun 202617, SPRING RISEBA5 1UESemi-Detached£372,500Freehold
11 Jun 202621, NORTH ROADBA5 2TLTerraced£317,500Freehold
5 Jun 202618, WELSFORD AVENUEBA5 2HXTerraced£270,000Freehold
5 Jun 20265, GOODYMOOR AVENUEBA5 2JHSemi-Detached£267,500Freehold
3 Jun 202610, NETTLE COMBE HOUSEBA5 3HJTerraced£310,000Leasehold
2 Jun 20263, EBBOR GORGE ROADBA5 1GPTerraced£341,000Freehold
1 Jun 20262, WOODACREBA5 2TESemi-Detached£390,000Freehold

Source: HM Land Registry price paid data, 12 months to August 2026 · Mendip District Council (legacy portal) planning register, retrieved August 2026. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Indicative terms

Bridging Loans rates
for Wells deals.

Typical pricing for bridging loans in Wells. Actual terms depend on GDV, leverage, location and your experience — the numbers below are where most structured deals land.

Interest Rate

From 0.55% p.m.

Loan to Value

Up to 75% LTV

Typical Term

1-18 months

Arrangement Fee

1-2% of facility

Indicative only, subject to individual assessment. Actual terms issued against a completed Deal Room submission.

Representative deal

Example bridging loans
structure.

Illustrative 9-Unit Scheme, Wells

An indicative appraisal for a nine-unit residential scheme priced at Wells's own HM Land Registry medians with the locally measured new-build premium applied. Build costs use the regional £/sqm benchmark; every figure updates with the underlying market data.

GDV

£3,059,000

Loan Amount

£1,988,000

LTV

65% LTGDV

Loan Type

Bridging Loans

Representative only. Actual terms vary based on scheme specifics and are issued after underwriting.

Common questions

Bridging Loans in Wells
— answered.

How fast can bridging finance complete?
The fastest bridging completions happen within 3-5 working days for straightforward residential properties with clean title and simple legal structures. More typically, completions take 7-14 working days. The key variables are valuation turnaround time, legal title complexity, and whether the borrower has all documentation ready. For properties in Wells, we have relationships with local valuers who can provide same-day or next-day inspections to accelerate the process.
What exit strategy do I need for a bridging loan?
Every bridging lender requires a credible exit strategy - their primary concern is how and when you'll repay the loan. The three most common exits are: (1) sale of the property, (2) refinance onto a term mortgage, or (3) refinance into a development or refurbishment facility. The stronger and more certain your exit, the better your bridging terms. Having an exit facility agreed in principle before drawing the bridge gives lenders maximum confidence.
How quickly can I get a bridging loan for a Wells property?
For properties in Wells, bridging completions typically take 7-14 working days. With 248 transactions recorded in the area over the past year, local valuers have strong comparable evidence, which can accelerate the valuation process. For auction purchases in Wells, we recommend getting a decision in principle before bidding.
How active is the development pipeline in Wells?
The Mendip District Council (legacy portal) planning register currently shows 110 residential applications awaiting decision in Wells, together proposing 179 units — the largest single scheme proposes 110 units. An active pipeline signals both developer confidence in local demand and lender familiarity with the market, which typically translates into more competitive finance terms.
Can I use a bridging loan to buy at auction?
Auction purchase is one of the most common bridging use cases. You typically have 28 days to complete after the hammer falls (some lots have 56-day completion periods). We recommend getting a bridging decision in principle before auction day - this means the lender has reviewed your financials and will commit subject only to valuation and legal due diligence on the specific property. For auctions featuring Somerset properties, we can often arrange pre-auction valuations to further accelerate completion.
Are regulated and unregulated bridging loans different?
Yes, significantly. Regulated bridging loans are governed by the FCA and apply when you or a close family member will occupy the property. They offer consumer protections including a 14-day reflection period, which can delay completion. Unregulated bridges apply to investment properties and have no reflection period, making them faster to complete. The distinction is important because it affects which lenders can participate and the speed of execution.
What happens if my bridging loan term expires?
If you can't repay the bridge within the initial term, most lenders offer a contractual extension - typically 3-6 months at an increased interest rate. Beyond the extension period, the lender can appoint receivers or take enforcement action to recover their funds. The best way to avoid this situation is to have a realistic exit timeline from the outset and to start executing your exit strategy well before the term expires. We monitor all active bridges and flag upcoming maturities to ensure exits are on track.
Can bridging finance be used on commercial property?
Commercial bridging is available for offices, retail units, industrial properties, mixed-use buildings, and land. Rates are typically slightly higher than residential bridging - from 0.65% per month - and maximum LTV is usually 65-70% rather than the 75% available on residential. For commercial properties in Wells, we access specialist commercial bridging lenders who understand the local investment market and can value accurately.
What deposit do I need for a bridging loan in Wells?
Bridging lenders typically advance up to 70-75% of the property value, meaning you need a deposit of 25-30%. Some specialist lenders offer up to 80% LTV for prime residential assets in liquid markets, reducing the deposit requirement to 20%. For borrowers with additional security (a charge over another property in your portfolio), it is sometimes possible to achieve an effective 100% of the purchase price on the bridged asset. We assess your full position to structure the most capital-efficient bridge for your Wells acquisition.
How does a bridging loan differ from development finance?
Bridging loans are short-term facilities (typically 3-18 months) secured against property, designed for speed of completion. They are drawn as a single advance against the property's current value. Development finance is a longer-term construction facility (12-24 months) drawn in stages against build progress, based on the property's projected completed value (GDV). Bridging suits acquisitions, chain breaks, and light refurbishment. Development finance suits ground-up builds and heavy conversion projects that require staged funding.

Further reading

Bridging Loans
guides.

8 min read

Development Finance vs Bridging Loans: Which Do You Need?

Two of the most common short-term property finance products, but they serve very different purposes. We break down the rates, terms, and scenarios where each makes sense.

6 min read

Fixed vs Variable Bridging Rates: Which Saves You More?

With bridging rates from 0.55% per month, the fixed vs variable decision can mean thousands in savings or unexpected costs. Here is how to choose.

12 min read

First-Time Property Developer's Guide to Finance

Breaking into property development without a track record is the single biggest financing challenge new developers face. This guide explains exactly how to get funded.

View all guides

Market intelligence

Local market
reports.

5 min read

Wells Property Market: House Prices, Sold Data & Development Finance, End of H1 2026

Median price £335,000, 243 sales, +1.5% YoY. Somerset county.

5 min read

Somerset Property Market: Prices, Trends & Development Finance, End of H1 2026

8 towns analysed. Median price £295,000, 7,961 transactions, -0.3% YoY.

Ready when you are

Tell us the deal.
We’ll recommend the structure.

Submit your Bridging Loans enquiry in Wells and a partner will come back with an initial structure and indicative terms within one working day. No forms-for-forms’-sake — a short note on the scheme is enough.

Enter the Deal RoomOr call +44 20 3816 3693

Where we fund

Wells,
Somerset.

Adjacent products

Other services
in Wells.

Development Finance

From 6.5% p.a. · Up to 65-70% LTGDV

Mezzanine Finance

From 12% p.a. · Up to 85-90% LTGDV

Equity & Joint Ventures

Profit share from 40% · Up to 100% of costs

Refurbishment Finance

From 0.65% p.m. · Up to 75% LTV

Commercial Mortgages

From 5.5% p.a. · Up to 75% LTV

Development Exit Finance

From 0.55% p.m. · Up to 75% LTV

Nearby markets

Adjacent towns
we also fund.

Bath

Taunton

Bridgwater

Yeovil

Frome

Glastonbury

Get Terms020 3816 3693