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Development Finance in Cambridge

Compare senior debt, mezzanine, and stretched senior from specialist UK lenders serving Cambridge and East of England businesses. Matched in 2 minutes, no credit check.

200+ UK lenders
2-minute application
No credit check to apply
FCA-regulated brokers

Rates

From 6.5% p.a.

Senior, mezzanine, or stretched

Amounts

£150k - £25M+

Speed

2-6 weeks

Cambridge

15k

businesses

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Development Finance explained

Development finance is specialist lending for property development projects — new builds, conversions, refurbishments, and renovations. Unlike standard mortgages, funds are released in stages as the build progresses, and repaid when you sell the completed units or refinance.

How development finance works

You apply with your project plans, planning permission, build costs, and a projected Gross Development Value (GDV). The lender values the site, assesses the project, and if approved, releases an initial tranche for site acquisition. Further drawdowns follow at agreed construction milestones — foundations, first fix, second fix, completion.

Development Finance options in Cambridge

Senior Debt

The primary development loan. Up to 65-70% LTGDV and 70-85% LTC. Rates from 6.5% per annum.

Mezzanine Finance

Fills the gap between senior debt and your equity. Up to 90% LTC. Rates from 12-18% per annum.

Stretched Senior

Combined senior + mezzanine in one facility. Up to 85% LTC. Rates from 8-12% per annum. Simpler structure.

Representative example

Borrow £1,000,000 at 8.5% over 18 months. Total repayable: ~£1,127,500. Your rate depends on your circumstances.

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Common uses for development finance in Cambridge

Development Finance for Cambridge businesses

Cambridge is home to one of the world's most productive innovation clusters, known as the Cambridge Cluster or 'Silicon Fen', with over 5,000 knowledge-intensive businesses employing more than 65,000 people across biotechnology, software, electronics, and medical devices. The University of Cambridge is the principal engine of this ecosystem, spinning out world-leading companies in areas including genomics, drug discovery, and artificial intelligence — with ARM Holdings among the most globally significant Cambridge-born technology firms. Commercial rents and property prices reflect the city's premium status as a global science and technology destination, with demand consistently exceeding supply across laboratory, office, and residential space. With 15k registered businesses across East of England, Cambridge has strong demand for competitive development finance.

Our panel of 200+ UK lenders includes providers serving the East of England area. Whether your Cambridge business needs ground-up residential development or commercial to residential conversion, we compare rates across the full market in 2 minutes.

Biotech & Life SciencesTechnology & SoftwareResearch & EducationMedical Devices

Development Finance with bad credit in Cambridge

Several specialist lenders on our panel work with Cambridge businesses that have imperfect credit histories. Our eligibility check uses a soft search only — no impact on your credit score. Check your options in 2 minutes.

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Development Finance in Cambridge: frequently asked questions

Can I get development finance for a project in Cambridge?
Yes. Cambridge development projects are well-served by our lender panel. Urban development sites in East of England typically achieve stronger GDV valuations, which can improve your LTGDV ratio and overall terms.
What are development finance rates in Cambridge?
Development finance rates typically start from 6.5% per annum for senior debt, rising to 12-18% for mezzanine. Rates depend on project risk, developer experience, and LTGDV — not your Cambridge location specifically.
Do I need development experience?
Most lenders prefer experienced developers, but some will consider first-time developers for smaller projects (under £500k) if the project is straightforward and you have relevant professional experience. Cambridge projects with strong local comparable evidence are easier to fund.
What is LTGDV?
Loan to Gross Development Value — the loan amount as a percentage of what the completed development will be worth. Most lenders offer up to 60-70% LTGDV. Cambridge developments with strong GDV evidence (recent comparable sales) typically achieve the higher end.
How is development finance structured?
Funds are released in stages (drawdowns) as the build progresses — typically at land purchase, foundations, first fix, second fix, and completion. A monitoring surveyor visits the site before each drawdown to verify work is on track.
What planning permission do I need?
Most development finance lenders require at least detailed planning permission before they will commit. Some will lend against outline permission or permitted development rights (e.g. commercial to residential conversion under Class MA).
Can I combine development finance with mezzanine?
Yes. Many developers use senior debt at 65-70% LTC and add mezzanine finance to reach 85-90% LTC. This reduces the equity you need to put in but increases total interest costs. Stretched senior products combine both in one facility for simplicity.
How do I repay development finance?
The two most common exit strategies are selling the completed units or refinancing to a standard commercial mortgage or buy-to-let portfolio. Your exit strategy needs to be realistic and supported by comparable evidence in the Cambridge market.

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