Development Finance

From site
to sold.

Ground-up and heavy refurbishment funding, staged against build cost and gross development value (GDV) — released in tranches as work completes.

Who this is for

Builders and developers.

Whether it's a single self-build or a multi-unit scheme, funding is staged against verified build cost and projected value, not paid out in one lump sum.

01

Ground-up development

New-build schemes from land purchase through to practical completion, with funds released in stages as work progresses.

02

Heavy refurbishment

Structural works, extensions, and conversions that go beyond what a standard mortgage or light-refurb bridge will fund.

03

Experienced & first-time developers

Whether this is your tenth scheme or your first, we match the case to lenders whose appetite fits your track record.

How it works

From enquiry to completion.

01

Tell us about the scheme

Site cost, build cost, projected GDV, and your development experience — either through our calculator below or a call with the team.

02

We shortlist the panel

We match your scheme against development lenders whose appetite fits the project size and your track record.

03

Facility agreed & drawdown begins

Initial funds released, with further tranches drawn down as build stages are independently verified.

04

Practical completion & exit

Scheme complete — funds repaid via sale, or refinanced onto an investment or commercial mortgage.

Model it

Development finance calculator.

Estimate loan-to-cost and loan-to-GDV for your scheme. This is a guide only — not a loan offer.

Loan-to-cost
70%
Within typical panel range
Loan-to-GDV46.7%
Total build cost£600,000
Projected GDV£900,000
Estimated developer equity needed£180,000
Most development lenders on our panel fund up to 65-75% of cost and 60-65% of GDV. Funds are released in stages against verified build progress.
FAQs

Common questions.

How is development finance released?

In stages — an initial drawdown, then further tranches released as build stages are independently verified by a monitoring surveyor.

Do I need previous development experience?

Not always. First-time developers can access development finance, though loan-to-cost ratios and lender choice are often more conservative than for experienced developers.

What's the difference between loan-to-cost and loan-to-GDV?

Loan-to-cost measures the loan against your total build cost; loan-to-GDV measures it against the projected value once complete. Lenders assess both.

How do I repay a development loan?

Typically through sale of the completed units, or by refinancing onto a term commercial or buy-to-let mortgage if you're retaining the property.

Ready to talk through your case?

Ace Finance UK arranges unregulated finance products only, including commercial mortgages, bridging finance, and development finance. Some buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any debt secured against it. Calculators on this site provide estimates only and do not constitute financial advice or a loan offer.

Ace Finance UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We do not arrange regulated mortgage contracts and do not provide regulated financial advice of any kind.