Shawbrook Bank is a deposit-taking specialist bank that lends to SMEs, property investors and developers. Its real estate team offers bridging, refurbishment, development exit and development finance alongside buy-to-let and commercial mortgages. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of Shawbrook Bank; it is one of the lenders we compare for bridging loans and development finance. You can read more on Shawbrook's own website.
About Shawbrook Bank
Shawbrook Bank is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the FCA and the PRA. It is part of Shawbrook Group PLC and is headquartered in the City of London. It describes itself as a specialist lender to SME, real estate and consumer customers, and funds its lending largely through customer savings, which are FSCS protected.
Shawbrook says it has more than 425,000 customers and a loan book of around £10.5 billion. Its real estate business covers professional landlords, property investors and developers, with products running from short-term bridging to long-term buy-to-let and commercial investment mortgages.
That range means a bridging borrower can, in some cases, refinance onto a Shawbrook term mortgage at the end of the bridge, which Shawbrook encourages with a fee discount.
What Shawbrook Bank funds
At the time of writing (October 2026), Shawbrook's real estate bridging and development range includes:
| Product | What it is for | Key criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Residential bridging, including light refurbishment | Houses, flats, small and large HMOs | From £50,000, up to 75% LTV (lower on higher-value homes); a lending-for-costs option on refurbishment |
| Semi-commercial bridging | Mixed-use property | Up to 75% LTV |
| Commercial bridging | Commercial property | Up to 70% to 75% of value |
| Heavy refurbishment | Residential, semi-commercial and commercial works | Up to 75% LTV |
| Development exit | Refinancing completed schemes while units sell | Up to 75% where sales or exchanges are evidenced; larger cases handled by its development team |
| Development finance | New build, conversions, refurbishment, mixed-use, student housing, senior living and co-living | £1m to £30m, up to 65% of GDV and 85% of costs, terms up to 36 months |
Bridging terms run from 1 to 24 months, with interest retained, part retained or serviced. Shawbrook says its bridging is available for loans up to £25 million in total, with loans over £2.5 million on a separate range. Shawbrook lends on a first charge; a second charge over other residential property may be taken only as additional security. Bridging covers England, Scotland and Wales, and development finance is available across mainland UK. Shawbrook says it can take planning gain into account on development finance.
Shawbrook's bridging is unregulated: it cannot lend where the borrower or a family member lives in the property. See our guide to regulated bridging loans if you need to borrow against your own home.
Who Shawbrook Bank suits (and who it may not)
Shawbrook tends to suit:
- Property investors and landlords who may want to refinance onto a buy-to-let or commercial mortgage with the same bank.
- Residential investors, including those without previous investment experience on simple residential cases with no or light works.
- HMO and multi-unit investors, including properties in Scotland.
- Developers needing development exit finance once units are selling.
- Experienced developers with schemes of £1 million or more, including student and co-living projects.
It may not suit homeowners needing a regulated bridge, borrowers in Northern Ireland, first-time developers seeking ground-up funding, or deals relying on planning uplift as the exit. Heavy refurbishment and commercial cases usually need relevant experience.
What Shawbrook Bank looks at
Shawbrook publishes detailed bridging criteria. Points it looks at include:
- Experience: none needed for simple residential bridges, but commercial bridging and heavy works require relevant ownership or refurbishment experience.
- The purchase price against valuation, the source of your deposit and the reason for any discount to market value.
- The exit: for a refinance, whether the property will support a term mortgage; for a sale, the valuer's view on demand.
- Borrower type: individuals, UK companies, LLPs, and on larger loans trusts and SIPPs; directors with significant shareholdings usually give personal guarantees.
- Age: applicants are typically between 21 and 80, with succession planning for older borrowers.
Pros and cons
Pros
- A PRA-authorised bank with a large real estate lending book.
- Bridging from £50,000, covering residential, HMO, semi-commercial and commercial.
- Lends in Scotland as well as England and Wales.
- Route onto a Shawbrook term mortgage after the bridge.
- Development finance up to £30 million, with planning gain considered.
Cons
- No regulated bridging.
- Lower leverage on higher-value homes.
- Development finance is for experienced developers, capped at 65% of GDV.
- Detailed criteria on deposits, purchase discounts and experience can rule some cases out.
Going through a broker vs going direct
Shawbrook deals mainly through intermediaries. Comparing first matters because specialist banks and non-bank bridgers differ on leverage, experience rules and how they view exits, and Shawbrook's detailed criteria may favour some cases over others. A broker can also line up the term mortgage that forms your exit.
We search the market, set Shawbrook alongside other suitable lenders, present your case and manage the application through to completion. It is free to enquire, and any broker fee is disclosed before you proceed.
Alternatives to Shawbrook Bank
- United Trust Bank: a specialist bank offering regulated and unregulated bridging and development finance.
- Hampshire Trust Bank: bank bridging, development exit and development finance.
- Allica Bank: bank bridging across residential, semi-commercial and commercial property.
- Precise Mortgages: bridging from a specialist bank group.
- Together: bridging including regulated cases.
Common questions
What is the minimum Shawbrook bridging loan?
At the time of writing, Shawbrook's bridging starts at £50,000, with terms from 1 to 24 months.
Does Shawbrook lend in Scotland?
Yes. Its bridging covers England, Scotland and Wales, and its development finance is available across mainland UK.
Does Shawbrook offer regulated bridging?
No. Shawbrook cannot consider bridging that would be a regulated transaction, such as a loan on a home you or your family live in.
How much does Shawbrook lend for development?
Its development finance runs from £1 million to £30 million, up to 65% of GDV and 85% of costs, over terms of up to 36 months, for experienced developers.
Do I need experience for a Shawbrook bridging loan?
Not for simple residential bridges with no or light works. Commercial bridging and heavy refurbishment require relevant experience.
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.
