Atelier Finance is a specialist property lender focused on mid-sized and larger development schemes, with loans of around £3m to £40m. Alongside residential development, it funds purpose-built student accommodation, build-to-rent, care schemes and development-related bridging. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of Atelier Finance, so we can compare its terms with other development lenders working at this size. You can read more on Atelier Finance's own website.
About Atelier Finance
Atelier Finance is the trading name used by Atelier Capital Partners Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with a London office. Its tagline is "Better property finance, by design", and it describes its approach as custom finance designed in collaboration with developers rather than a fixed product range.
Atelier states that it is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and that its loans are exempt agreements, which is usual for business lending to property developers. Its website says it works to institutional standards of risk management and governance, and that its senior team has backgrounds in banking, credit and property finance law. The site does not say when the business was founded or who provides its capital, so we have not stated either.
Atelier also says it wants to support a more sustainable built environment. It runs what it calls the Carbonlite Challenge, which it says offers lower-cost finance for greener designs. Atelier Finance is one of the lenders we compare for larger development finance cases.
What Atelier Finance funds
At the time of writing (October 2026), Atelier Finance lists the following loan solutions. Its website gives loan sizes of £3m to £40m in most places, with one summary stating £5m to £40m, so the lower limit may depend on the scheme.
| Product | What it is for | Key limits |
|---|---|---|
| Residential development | Apartments, houses, private rented schemes, urban and brownfield sites, conversions and permitted development | Up to 70% of gross development value (with discretion to go higher), up to 90% of cost, terms of 12 to 36 months |
| Purpose-built student accommodation | Student housing schemes across the UK | Assessed case by case |
| Build-to-rent | Rental schemes built to be held and let | Assessed case by case |
| Care | Care and later-living developments | Assessed case by case |
| Bridging | Site purchase, land with planning, adding planning value and development exit | Up to 70% gross loan to value, terms of 12 to 36 months |
Interest can be rolled up or serviced, and Atelier says a minimum interest period of typically three months applies. It also says third-party mezzanine finance and second charges may be considered alongside its senior loan, and it offers refinancing of existing facilities. It mentions a "Day One" initiative for part-funding site acquisitions.
Lending is offered in England, Scotland and Wales. See our guides to ground-up development finance and green development finance for how these products are typically structured.
Who Atelier Finance suits (and who it may not)
Atelier Finance tends to suit:
- Professional developers with a track record of similar schemes.
- Residential projects needing several million pounds or more of senior debt.
- Student accommodation, build-to-rent and care developments, which many smaller lenders do not fund.
- Developers building to higher environmental standards who want that reflected in pricing.
- Developers who may want to layer mezzanine finance on top of a senior loan.
It is unlikely to suit first-time developers, small schemes needing less than £3m, self-builders, or anyone in Northern Ireland. Developers needing a small bridge or a light refurbishment loan will usually be better served elsewhere.
What Atelier Finance looks at
At this loan size, lenders typically carry out detailed due diligence. Atelier says it wants professional developers with a track record on comparable schemes, and it will usually look at:
- The developer's completed projects, accounts and the strength of any guarantors.
- Planning consent, including any conditions or Section 106 obligations.
- The contractor, building contract and cost plan, reviewed by a monitoring surveyor.
- Gross development value and sales or letting evidence.
- The exit: unit sales, a forward sale, or a refinance onto investment finance.
Security is a first legal charge on the site plus guarantees.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Larger loan sizes, up to around £40m.
- Funds sectors such as student accommodation, build-to-rent and care.
- Up to 90% of cost, with discretion on gross development value.
- Mezzanine finance and second charges may be considered.
- Lower-cost finance offered for greener designs.
Cons
- Minimum loan size of around £3m rules out smaller schemes.
- Experienced developers only.
- No lending in Northern Ireland.
- A minimum interest period typically applies.
Going through a broker vs going direct
Atelier says it works with intermediaries as well as directly with developers. For schemes of this size, terms can differ a great deal between lenders on leverage, fees, interest structure and the conditions attached, and many larger cases are funded with a mix of senior and mezzanine debt. We search the market, approach suitable lenders and present the scheme so you can compare offers on a like-for-like basis.
It is free to enquire, and any broker fee is agreed with you before you proceed. Our stretch senior development finance page explains the main alternative to splitting senior and mezzanine debt.
Alternatives to Atelier Finance
- Puma Property Finance: lends on larger development schemes and is worth comparing above £10m.
- Pluto Capital: development lender working at a similar or larger scale.
- OakNorth Bank: a bank lender for larger developments, including build-to-rent.
- Secure Trust Bank: real estate lending for experienced developers on larger schemes.
Common questions
How much does Atelier Finance lend?
At the time of writing, Atelier Finance says it offers loans of £3m to £40m. One part of its website gives the range as £5m to £40m, so smaller loans may depend on the scheme.
What loan to GDV does Atelier Finance offer?
Atelier states up to 70% of gross development value, with discretion to go higher, and up to 90% of total cost.
Does Atelier Finance lend to first-time developers?
Atelier says it lends to professional developers with a track record of similar developments, so first-time developers are unlikely to fit.
Where does Atelier Finance lend?
Atelier lends in England, Scotland and Wales.
Is Atelier Finance regulated by the FCA?
Atelier states that it is not authorised by the FCA and that its loans are exempt agreements. This is common for development loans made to businesses.
This review is our independent summary of the lender's publicly stated lending, checked in October 2026. Criteria change, so confirm the current position before relying on it. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of any lender reviewed. Finance is subject to status, valuation and lender approval.
