Development finance in Glasgow
CoreFi arranges development finance for Glasgow property projects, typically limited companies and SPVs funding ground-up build, conversion or refurbishment. We match your scheme to lenders who fund Glasgow development. Loan-to-cost and loan-to-GDV figures are indicative and depend on the scheme, the exit and lender appetite.
Glasgow is in the middle of a long run of property activity. The Clyde waterfront has been transformed from the old docks and shipyards into offices, homes and leisure around Pacific Quay, the Broomielaw and the SEC, and regeneration continues at Sighthill, Govan, the East End and across former industrial land. Alongside the headline schemes, smaller developers and contractors are converting tenement blocks, former commercial buildings and yards into flats and mixed use across the West End, the Southside and the city centre. All of that needs development finance: short-term funding drawn in stages to cover land and build costs, repaid when the finished units are sold or refinanced.
CoreFi is a commercial finance broker that arranges development finance for Glasgow property projects, principally limited companies and SPVs. We package the scheme, present the numbers the way a development lender expects, and approach the lenders whose appetite fits the project and the location. Any loan-to-cost, loan-to-GDV or timeline figures on this page are indicative and illustrative only; the lender decides and prices the facility based on the scheme, the exit and its own appetite.
- 1
Share the scheme and your numbers
Tell us about the Glasgow site, what you plan to build or convert, the costs, the expected end value and your exit. Send the planning position and appraisal if you have them; if not, we will help you shape it.
- 2
We approach development lenders that fit
We match the scheme to lenders on our whole-of-market panel whose appetite suits the project size, type, location and, crucially, who are comfortable lending on Scottish deals, then present it the way they expect.
- 3
You compare offers and we manage drawdown
We talk you through loan-to-cost, loan-to-GDV, fees and the real cost of any offers, help you choose, and manage the facility and staged drawdowns through to completion, keeping the Scots-law legal side aligned.
How development finance works on a Glasgow scheme
Development finance is short-term, staged funding built around a specific project. A lender typically advances a proportion of the land cost up front and then releases the build cost in tranches as the work is signed off by a monitoring surveyor, which keeps their exposure in step with the value being created on site. Lenders look hard at two ratios: loan-to-cost, meaning how much of the total project cost they will fund, and loan-to-GDV, meaning the loan against the expected end value once the scheme is finished and sold. For Glasgow projects, from a tenement conversion in the West End to a new-build block near the Clyde or a mixed-use scheme in the East End, the credible end value and a clear exit matter as much as the build itself. The facility is repaid when units are sold or when the completed development is refinanced onto a longer-term product.
What Glasgow lenders want to see
Development lenders back people as much as projects. They will want to understand your track record, the professional team around you, the planning position, a realistic build budget with contingency, and above all a credible exit, whether that is sales into the local market or a refinance. Glasgow has genuine demand for housing and student accommodation, and areas like Finnieston, the West End, Shawlands and the waterfront have strong sales and rental markets, but lenders still test your numbers against comparable local values rather than optimistic assumptions. Experience counts: a first-time developer will find fewer lenders and tighter terms than someone with completed Glasgow schemes behind them. We help you present all of this in the format a lender expects, and we are honest with you if a scheme looks thin before you spend money chasing it.
Scots law and why local knowledge matters
Property development in Scotland runs on Scots law, which differs from England and Wales on conveyancing, standard securities and the missives process. Not every UK development lender is set up to lend north of the border, and those that do will expect Scottish solicitors on both sides and security taken in the right form. This is a common place for Glasgow deals to stall if nobody is coordinating it. As a broker who arranges finance across Scotland, we steer your enquiry toward lenders who are genuinely comfortable with Scottish development and make sure the legal side is lined up early. We cannot guarantee an offer or a rate; the decision and pricing sit with the lender and depend on your scheme, your experience and the exit.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of Glasgow projects can development finance fund?
Ground-up residential and mixed-use build, conversions of tenements, offices and industrial buildings into flats, and heavy refurbishment. Schemes range from small West End or Southside conversions to larger blocks near the Clyde waterfront and in East End regeneration areas. The right lender and terms depend on the project size, type and location.
How much of the project cost will a lender fund?
It varies by lender, scheme and your experience. Development lenders work to loan-to-cost and loan-to-GDV limits, funding part of the cost up front and releasing build funds in stages. Any percentages we mention are indicative only; the lender sets the actual figures based on the scheme and the exit.
Do I need development experience to get funding?
It helps a great deal. Lenders back experienced developers with completed schemes on better terms and with more choice. First-time developers can still find funding, often at higher cost or with a requirement for a strong professional team, more equity or a monitoring surveyor. We will be honest about where you stand before you commit.
Does it matter that the project is in Scotland?
Yes. Scottish property runs on Scots law, and not every UK development lender lends north of the border. We steer your enquiry toward lenders who are comfortable with Scottish schemes and make sure Scottish solicitors and the right form of security are in place early, which is where these deals often lose time.
Get matched with lenders for your Glasgow business
Tell us what your business needs and we will match you with lenders whose criteria fit. No obligation, no cost to start the conversation, and a straight answer about what is realistic for your situation.
Get matched with lenders