Development Finance London
Our development finance London service covers ground-up construction, conversions and substantial works across London, structured around cost, completed value, borrower equity, programme and a credible exit.
Planning, valuation and site constraints can materially affect a London scheme. The appraisal and exit still determine the credit case.
Minimum development finance facility: £350,000
Personal service with established backing.
You deal directly with me, from the initial assessment through to completion. EAS Finance grew from work for large institutional clients, where accuracy, evidence and accountability were expected.
EAS Finance is an appointed representative of White Rose Finance Group, established in 2004. The group brings more than 20 years of experience across the full breadth of commercial and property lending, together with extensive lender relationships.
Development finance London, assessed against the scheme, not the postcode.
London offers some of the most active development lending in the UK, but the borough-by-borough variation in planning policy, the prevalence of mixed-use and converted stock, and the flattening of headline house price growth since 2016 mean the credit case has to work harder than the address alone suggests.
Most boroughs have Article 4 Directions in place that remove or restrict permitted development rights in commercial and town centre locations, which affects office-to-residential conversion schemes in particular. The scope varies significantly borough by borough, and the planning position always needs checking at site level before a facility can be structured.
A London postcode is not a substitute for a tested planning position and a credible completed value.
Where the requirement is acquisition or refurbishment rather than substantial construction, our bridging finance London page may be more relevant. For the general mechanics of development finance UK-wide, see our development finance page.
Development types we see across London
Facility structure changes with planning route, existing use, and intended exit.
Office-to-residential conversion
Permitted development or full planning conversion schemes, subject to Article 4 status at borough level.
Mixed-use redevelopment
Shops with flats above, or commercial ground floor with residential upper floors, each with its own valuation and exit logic.
Ground-up residential
New-build houses and apartment schemes on infill or redevelopment sites.
HMO and rental conversion
Conversion into licensed HMO or build-to-rent stock, with planning, licensing and refinance considered together.
Heavy refurbishment
Structural works beyond a standard refurbishment bridge, often in period or converted stock.
Part-built schemes
Completion funding where a previous facility has stalled and a reliable cost-to-complete position is needed.
What London development lenders look at closely
For development finance London cases, the scheme’s fundamentals remain central, but the capital adds planning and valuation questions that need answering early rather than discovered mid-process.
Planning route
Whether the scheme relies on permitted development rights, and whether an Article 4 Direction removes that route in the relevant borough.
Completed value
Independent evidence for GDV, tested against recent comparable sales rather than optimistic borough-wide averages.
Existing use and title
Leasehold structures, existing tenancies, and any restriction affecting vacant possession or redevelopment.
Developer and team
Experience with London-specific delivery, including party wall matters and constrained sites.
Article 4 Directions are the first thing to check, not the last.
Permitted development rights for office-to-residential conversion exist nationally, but most London boroughs have removed or restricted them within commercial and town centre locations through Article 4 Directions. Where these apply, a scheme that would otherwise proceed under permitted development rights needs full planning permission instead, which changes both the timetable and the lending risk.
We check the planning position at site level, borough by borough, before structuring a facility around it, rather than assuming a scheme qualifies because similar conversions have worked elsewhere in London.
What we need to understand a London scheme
- Site address, borough, and current use
- Planning position, including Article 4 status if relevant
- Purchase price or current site value
- Detailed build cost and professional fees
- Expected completed value, with comparable evidence
- Developer equity available
- Developer and contractor experience in London
- Build programme
- Proposed exit strategy
Development finance London: frequently asked questions
Does an Article 4 Direction stop my scheme going ahead?
Not necessarily, but it means the scheme cannot rely on permitted development rights and needs full planning permission instead. This affects timing and lender risk assessment, and should be checked at borough level before terms are structured.
Is development finance available for mixed-use London property?
Yes, though lenders will typically assess the commercial and residential elements separately, including their individual valuations and exit routes, rather than treating the scheme as a single uniform asset.
How is GDV assessed for London schemes?
Independent valuers assess Gross Development Value against genuinely comparable recent sales, which in London can vary significantly street by street. Lenders are cautious of GDV assumptions based on borough-wide averages.
Can first-time developers get development finance in London?
Potentially, though lenders often take a more conservative view of leverage and place weight on scheme simplicity, planning certainty, and the strength of the wider professional team, particularly for London’s more complex planning environment.
What happens if planning permission is delayed?
A delay affects the facility’s programme and can increase finance cost. Facilities are typically structured with some allowance for planning and approval timelines, but material delays may require the position to be reassessed with the lender.
Other finance and locations
Discuss a London development finance requirement.
For development finance requirements of £350,000 or more, send us the site, borough, planning position, acquisition price, build cost, expected GDV, equity contribution and intended exit.
This page provides general information about commercial property development finance and does not constitute personal financial advice. EAS Finance is a trading name of Elite Admin Services Ltd (FRN 1044838), an appointed representative of White Rose Finance Group Ltd (FRN 630772), authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. EAS Finance is a credit broker, not a lender. Lending terms, leverage and criteria vary by transaction and lender.