Imperial Blue Finance is a specialist development lender offering senior debt, stretched senior and mezzanine finance for residential and mixed-use schemes. It says it was set up to fill funding gaps left by the high street banks. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of Imperial Blue Finance; it is one of the lenders we compare for development finance. You can read more on Imperial Blue Finance's own website.
About Imperial Blue Finance
Imperial Blue Finance says it was founded in 2012 and describes itself as a principal lender of development finance rather than a broker or arranger. It is based in Mayfair, London.
The business says it is privately funded, backed by institutional and private capital, with its principal lending arm supported by high net worth investors. It positions itself as an alternative to challenger and high street banks for developers who need more leverage than a bank will offer.
Imperial Blue focuses on development lending only. It does not publish bridging or regulated products, so it is a lender for property companies and developers rather than homeowners.
What Imperial Blue Finance funds
At the time of writing (October 2026), Imperial Blue publishes two main products. Its own pages give some inconsistent figures, so the table uses the more cautious ones.
| Product | What it is for | Size and term | Maximum leverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior and stretched senior debt | New build, conversions, permitted development, refurbishment and development exit | £1 million to £10 million; terms up to 26 months | Up to 90% of costs and 70% of GDV |
| Mezzanine and JV-style equity | Topping up a senior loan on a second charge so the developer puts in less cash | From around £1 million; terms up to 26 months | Total gearing of up to 98% of costs |
Interest is fixed at the outset rather than linked to base rate. Imperial Blue says its mezzanine does not take a profit share: the developer pays a fixed cost and keeps the rest of the profit. Schemes it lists include houses and flats for sale, build to rent, student accommodation and co-living, generally aimed at affordable local market values. Its focus is affordable homes of the kind once bought with Help to Buy, though higher-value units within a larger development are also funded, and commercial space is considered only as part of a larger residential scheme.
Our guides to stretched senior development finance and permitted development finance explain how these structures work.
Who Imperial Blue Finance suits (and who it may not)
Imperial Blue tends to suit:
- Experienced developers who want to keep more of their own cash in reserve or spread it across several schemes.
- Residential and mixed-use schemes in England with full planning permission.
- Conversions and permitted development projects, as well as ground-up new build.
- Developers who prefer a fixed cost of borrowing to a profit share.
- Build to rent, student and co-living schemes.
- Affordable, Help to Buy style homes, which Imperial Blue says are a focus.
It may not suit first-time developers, schemes without full planning, loans below about £1 million, borrowers with a recent insolvency or bankruptcy, or anyone needing a bridging loan or regulated lending.
What Imperial Blue Finance looks at
Imperial Blue sets out several requirements on its product pages:
- Full planning approval in place before lending.
- Relevant development experience; its mezzanine page refers to a period of experience of around three years.
- No recent insolvency or bankruptcy.
- A limited personal guarantee.
- A developer contribution, which it says is typically 10% to 20% of total project costs on senior lending.
As with any development lender, expect close scrutiny of build costs, the contractor, the programme and the sales evidence behind the GDV.
Pros and cons
Pros
- High leverage against costs, particularly with mezzanine.
- Fixed pricing, with no profit share on mezzanine.
- Covers new build, conversions, permitted development and development exit.
- Principal lender with private and institutional backing.
Cons
- Experienced developers only.
- Full planning needed, so no pre-planning or land funding.
- Lending mainly in England, with some inconsistency on its site about Wales.
- Published figures differ between pages, so terms need confirming case by case.
- Higher leverage usually means a higher overall cost of finance.
Going through a broker vs going direct
Imperial Blue lends to developers directly and through brokers. Comparing first matters because high-leverage development debt is priced very differently across lenders, and a blend of senior and mezzanine from different providers can sometimes cost less than a stretched loan from one. Equally, a developer with more equity may find a cheaper senior-only lender.
We search the market, set Imperial Blue alongside senior, stretched senior and mezzanine lenders, present your scheme and manage the application through to completion. It is free to enquire, and any broker fee is disclosed before you proceed.
Alternatives to Imperial Blue Finance
- Triple Point Private Credit: senior and stretched senior development debt.
- Sancus: development loans up to 75% of GDV.
- Fiduciam: development lending for experienced developers.
- Blend Network: development loans from £1 million.
- Relendex: residential and commercial development finance.
Common questions
How much does Imperial Blue Finance lend?
Senior development loans currently run from £1 million to £10 million, on terms of up to 26 months.
What is the maximum loan to cost with Imperial Blue?
It says senior debt goes up to 90% of costs, and its mezzanine product can take total gearing higher, up to 98% of costs.
Does Imperial Blue take a profit share?
Imperial Blue says its mezzanine and JV-style finance does not require a profit share. You pay a fixed cost and keep the rest of the profit.
Does Imperial Blue lend to first-time developers?
No. It requires relevant development experience and full planning permission.
Where does Imperial Blue Finance lend?
Mainly in England. Some of its pages also mention Wales, so check for schemes outside England.
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.
