Bridging Finance News Round-Up | 30 March – 2 April 2026

By Bridging Loan Directory 2nd April 2026

It’s been a shorter week across the UK bridging finance and specialist property lending market due to the Easter bank holiday, but there has still been a steady flow of activity across deals, product updates and appointments.

Highlights included a £20m development loan from Pluto Finance, a £23m multi-stage bridging facility in the City of London, and further rate reductions from lenders including United Trust Bank and Stamford Finance.

This week on Bridging Loan Directory we published 21 stories covering bridging finance deals, lender appointments, product updates and market activity across the specialist finance sector.

Here’s your full weekly digest.

People Moves

Finova Broker promotes Ben Radford to Head of Broker Payments
Finova Broker has promoted Ben Radford into a senior leadership role within its payments division.

Glenhawk appoints Harry Pleasance as BDM for the South
Glenhawk has strengthened its regional broker support with a new BDM appointment.

Catalyst Property Finance strengthens team with three new hires
Catalyst has expanded its team with three new appointments.

Lendco appoints Leah Brunskill as Head of Marketing
Lendco has appointed a new Head of Marketing to support brand growth.

Roma Finance strengthens team with senior hires and promotions
Roma Finance has made a series of senior hires and internal promotions.

Afin Bank appoints Lisa Taylor as Underwriter
Afin Bank has added underwriting capacity with a new appointment.

Alternative Bridging strengthens broker support team with internal BDM hire
The lender has enhanced its broker support function.

Mercantile Trust promotes Nina Kainth to Head of Sales

Mercantile Trust has promoted Nina Kainth to Head of Sales, bringing together its business development and sales functions under a unified structure.

Ampla Finance strengthens team with three hires and promotion
Ampla Finance continues to build its team with multiple hires.

Deal Activity

Pluto Finance completes £20m development loan alongside HGP
The loan supports a large-scale development project.

Pallas Capital completes £2m development loan for Wallington assisted living scheme
Funding supports an assisted living scheme in Wallington.

SHC Capital arranges multi-stage bridging loan for £23m City of London redevelopment
A complex multi-stage facility supports a major redevelopment project.

Industry News

United Trust Bank cuts bridging loan rates to 0.57% pm
The lender has reduced rates as pricing pressure continues across the market.

Stamford Finance cuts development exit rates by up to 1%
Further rate reductions target development exit lending.

Raw Capital Partners updates new build lending criteria
Criteria updates aim to support new build lending activity.

Lendlord launches compliance tool for Renters’ Rights Act
A new tool has been launched to support landlord compliance.

Investec provides £53m residential financing to support LRC Group acquisitions
The funding supports a series of residential acquisitions.

Opinion

Growth doesn’t fail lenders, weak underwriting does
Richard Boyle, Founder of Laburnum Real Estate, argues that underwriting discipline, not growth, is what ultimately determines lender performance.

Execution over promises: what one year in the market has taught me
Michael Clifford, Founder of Liberty Funding, reflects on the importance of delivery and execution over promises in today’s market.