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Development Finance for Brokers

Every property development needs the right foundation, that’s why we package each case so it stacks up strong from the start.

Whether it’s a conversion or ground-up build, we match your client’s project to lenders who understand construction risk and realistic project timelines.

It’s not just our access to market-leading rates and exclusive products that makes us clever, it’s how we structure a deal: sensible LTC/LTGDV, IMS-led drawdowns, and an exit that holds up even when the scaffolding comes down.

If you’re a developer looking for funding yourself, see our development finance page for borrowers.

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For brokers and introducers. We partner with advisers on their clients’ cases. Looking for finance yourself? See our development finance page.

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Clever Lending Team

What Makes Us So Clever

We don’t just “find rates.” We navigate the entire process for you. We know which lenders love higher leverage, how to structure sensible LTC/LTGDV, and where monitoring or IMS involvement starts to matter.

If your client is funding a conversion or ground-up scheme, we’ll find the best possible terms based on their experience, build schedule and exit strategy.

Development Finance Overview

Access to exclusive and market-leading rates
Loans up to £50m
Up to 70% LTGDV / 90% LTC
Ground-up, conversion and heavy refurb projects
Staged drawdowns and IMS-led monitoring
Funding for single units, multi-unit, and phased sites
Experienced and first-time developers accepted
SPVs, LLPs, LTDs and joint ventures accepted
Rolled or part-serviced interest options
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Exit flexibility
No early repayment or exit fees (with most lenders)
Mezzanine or stretch senior options available
Development Finance

How Clever Lending Handles a Development Finance Case

Typical Timings: Most development cases complete within 12-18 weeks, depending on valuation, monitoring and legals. We’ll set realistic dates at the outset and keep you informed if anything changes.

Same-Day Sense Check

Send the outline: site address, GDV, loan amount, build costs, timescale, exit plan and borrower experience. We’ll come back within 24 working hours with target lenders and the likely structure.

Lender-Specific Pack List

One checklist per lender, no blanket uploads. Fewer uploads means fewer re-underwrites.

Appraisal → Valuation → Offer

We review the appraisal, instruct valuation and monitoring once the pack lands, and outline conditions in clear terms you can forward to your client.

Legals & Completion

We keep legals and QS reports on track and update you throughout.
If a milestone moves, you’ll hear it from us first and with a new date confirmed.

What To Have Ready

Get the essentials lined up early so we can move quickly for your client.
Here’s what we’ll need to sense-check your development finance case and get it lender-ready.

Core Details:

  • Site address and description
  • GDV, loan amount, term and build costs
  • Schedule of works or appraisal
  • Borrower background and experience
  • Exit route (sale, refinance, or both)
  • Company structure and shareholders

Documents:

  • ID and proof of address for all applicants
  • Planning consent and conditions
  • Full development appraisal and cost breakdown
  • CV or development track record
  • Bank statements (3-6 months)
  • Details of contractors / main contractor agreement
  • Valuation and monitoring access details

Development Finance Case Studies

Bridging vs Development Finance: Which Is Right for Your Project?

Bridging vs development finance is one of the most common questions in...

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How Much Can You Borrow on Development Finance? A Worked Example

Development finance is quoted in percentages that sound reassuring until you try...

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Development Finance for Conversions and Change of Use

Development finance for conversions funds the messy middle when you turn a...

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Speak to Someone Clever About Development Finance

Refer your case, and we’ll come back within 24 working hours with a realistic route and a clear list of what we need to issue formal terms. If, for whatever reason, the case doesn’t fit, we will tell you immediately and explain exactly why.

There are no fees payable until we have a solution, and you will always speak to an advisor, not to a triage team passing you on. We believe in speaking to an expert from the start.

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Development Finance FAQs

Typically 12-18 weeks, depending on valuation, monitoring and legal readiness.
Yes. With the right professional team and contractor support. We'll match you to lenders that accept limited experience.
Yes. We place these with lenders that accommodate mixed-use or prior-approval schemes.
Up to 70% Loan to Gross Development Value (LTGDV), or 90% Loan to Cost (LTC), subject to experience and location.
Yes, where applicable. We’ll confirm early if a monitoring surveyor or QS is required, along with the scope and cost so there are no surprises.
The lender does, as they represent the client.
Yes. Most development finance facilities are interest-rolled.
We ensure realistic contingencies and flag lender expectations upfront. Typically, 5-10% of the build cost, depending on complexity.
Yes subject to the cost of works and value uplift.
Yes. Either sale or refinance. We'll sense check exit viability early to avoid issues at redemption.
Yes. Either part-development or full planning.
Contingency is there for sensible variances.
Sometimes they are required; sometimes flexibility is better. We match the case to lender appetite rather than forcing pre-sales that restrict your client later.
Development finance proc fees typically range from 0.5 to 1% of facility, sometimes higher on larger or more complex schemes. Some lenders structure the introducer fee as a one-off payment at completion. Others pay on each tranche release. We disclose the proc fee on indicative terms so brokers can structure client fees with full transparency.
Core packaging includes the schedule of works, costed contractor quote, build programme, professional team CVs, planning consent, site appraisal, developer CV and experience schedule, exit strategy (sales comparables or a DIP for refinance), and developer financials. We issue each lender's specific pack list at the terms stage so files arrive complete and avoid re-underwrites.
Senior development finance on our panel reaches up to 70% Loan-to-GDV and 90% Loan-to-Cost, with both ratios required to be met. Mezzanine and stretched senior can layer above the senior debt to lift overall gearing, at higher cost. We model both senior and senior-plus-mezz scenarios at the indicative terms stage so the developer can see the trade-off.
The lender appoints both the initial QS (who validates costs and the build programme pre-drawdown) and the ongoing monitoring surveyor (who certifies stage payments). Costs are borne by the borrower from the facility. We identify QS firms with whom each lender works most efficiently to keep monitoring turnaround tight and stage drawdowns predictable.
Yes. We arrange mezzanine, stretched senior and JV equity solutions alongside senior development finance to optimise gearing. Mezz typically sits behind senior at 5 to 15% of GDV at higher cost (often 12 to 18% rolled). The senior and mezz lenders must agree priority terms via an inter-creditor agreement, which we coordinate between the parties.
Most senior development lenders do not require pre-sales on smaller schemes (under around £5m GDV) where sales comparables and demand evidence are strong. Larger schemes (around £10m+ GDV) often require 30 to 50% pre-sales to mitigate exit risk. We model pre-sale requirements at the indicative terms stage so the developer's marketing strategy is aligned to the lender's expectations.
Yes. Planning-bridge-to-development is a structured route. The bridge funds site purchase pre-planning at conservative LTV. On grant of detailed planning the developer refinances onto a senior development facility. We model both stages from day one so the planning timeline, valuation uplift and senior take-out are all sequenced to keep the project moving.
A typical senior development finance case completes 12 to 18 weeks from submission to first drawdown, driven by QS review, legal due diligence on site and title, and finalising the inter-creditor where mezz is involved. Clean cases on familiar lenders can complete in 8 to 10 weeks. We issue realistic timelines at terms so brokers and developers can plan accurately.

More process and commercial questions, covering referrals, packaging, fees and payment, are answered in our broker FAQs.

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