Novellus is a bridging and alternative finance lender operating under the Novellus Capital group, with lending in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It offers short-term loans secured on residential, commercial, HMO and land assets, light and heavy refurbishment finance and development finance. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of Novellus Capital, so we can compare its terms with other bridging and development lenders. You can read more on Novellus Capital's own website.
About Novellus Capital
Novellus Capital describes itself as a parent company, with its bridging business trading as Novellus Bridging and a related business as Novellus Finance. In its own material, Novellus describes itself as an experienced commercial lender, lending in the UK and Ireland, and as privately funded. It says having its own capital allows it to be commercial and flexible, and that all lending decisions are made in-house. It is not a bank.
Novellus lends to companies and individuals on unregulated terms, meaning it does not offer regulated bridging on a home the borrower or family lives in. Its public website gives few details about its history or ownership, so we have not stated them here. Its UK office is in Bromley, south-east London.
Novellus is one of the lenders we compare for bridging loans and development finance, including cases in Northern Ireland, where fewer specialist lenders operate.
What Novellus funds
Novellus says it offers fixed rates on commercial, HMO, land, residential, light and heavy refurbishment and development lending. Novellus does not publish current detailed criteria on its website. The limits below come from its September 2023 criteria presentation, so at the time of writing (October 2026) they should be treated as dated and indicative.
| Asset type | Indicative maximum (UK) |
|---|---|
| Residential | Up to 70% LTV |
| Commercial | Up to 60% LTV |
| Land, with or without planning | Up to 50% LTV |
| Development | Up to 65% of gross development value and 80% of total cost |
| Term loan after the bridge | Up to 65% LTV, for three to five years |
The maximum bridging term is 24 months. In the Republic of Ireland, Novellus has published separate criteria covering buy-to-let, land, commercial property and development, focused on Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, with other areas on referral.
Novellus also lends against a wide range of assets for business purposes, including capital raising for a business investment. Heavy refurbishment is considered case by case. Novellus does not publish a minimum loan size.
See our guides to land finance, heavy refurbishment finance and bridge-to-term finance.
Who Novellus suits (and who it may not)
Novellus tends to suit:
- Companies and individuals borrowing against investment or commercial property.
- Land purchases, including land without planning, where lower leverage is acceptable.
- Business owners raising capital against property.
- Developers and investors in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.
- Borrowers who may want a term loan to follow the bridge.
It is not suitable for regulated bridging on your own home. Borrowers who need high leverage, particularly on commercial property or land, may find other lenders go further.
What Novellus looks at
As a lender using its own capital, Novellus says each case is underwritten in-house. Like most bridging lenders, it will typically look at:
- The value and type of the security, confirmed by an independent valuation.
- A clear exit within the term, whether sale, refinance or its own term loan.
- The borrower's experience and financial position.
- For development and refurbishment, the costs, programme and planning position.
- Personal guarantees where the borrower is a company.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Privately funded, with in-house decisions.
- Lends in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
- Land considered with or without planning.
- Fixed rates across its range.
- Terms up to 24 months, with term loan options afterwards.
Cons
- Lower leverage than many bridging lenders, especially on land and commercial property.
- No regulated bridging.
- Limited published criteria, and some details date from 2023.
Going through a broker vs going direct
Novellus works with brokers as well as direct borrowers. Because its published criteria are limited, it helps to know how it is likely to view a case before applying. We search the market, approach suitable lenders and set a Novellus offer against others on leverage, fees and term, so you can judge the full cost.
It is free to enquire, and any broker fee is agreed with you before you proceed. Our commercial bridging loans page explains how lenders size loans on commercial property.
Alternatives to Novellus
- Fiduciam: business bridging and development finance in the UK, Ireland and Europe.
- Octane Capital: bridging on residential and commercial property for larger cases.
- Charles Street Finance: bridging across a broad range of property types.
- Hampshire Trust Bank: development and bridging finance from a specialist bank.
Common questions
Does Novellus lend in Northern Ireland?
Yes. Novellus lends in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and has separate criteria for the Republic of Ireland.
What LTV does Novellus offer on bridging?
Its September 2023 criteria showed up to 70% LTV on residential, 60% on commercial and 50% on land. Treat these as indicative, as they date from 2023.
Does Novellus fund land without planning?
Novellus says it considers land with or without planning, at lower leverage than residential property.
Does Novellus offer development finance?
Yes. Its September 2023 criteria showed development lending up to 65% of gross development value and 80% of total cost in the UK.
Does Novellus offer regulated bridging?
No. Novellus offers unregulated bridging to companies and individuals for business and investment purposes.
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.
