Together Development Finance Review

Together Development Finance at a Glance

Our Verdict

Together is a specialist lender with genuine appetite for complex development cases — non-standard income, unusual property types, and change-of-use projects that mainstream banks routinely decline. Its relationship-managed model suits experienced developers who need flexibility over headline rates.

Rates and LTC/LTGDV limits are not published upfront, so budgeting requires a direct conversation. That opacity is a genuine limitation at the early appraisal stage, but the flip side is underwriting flexibility that few rivals match.

Best For

• Developers with complex income structures or non-standard credit profiles
• Ground-up residential, HMO, and multi-unit projects
• Commercial-to-residential conversions and change-of-use schemes
• Projects declined by mainstream banks or institutional lenders
• Borrowers who prefer a dedicated relationship manager over an online portal

Not Ideal For

• Developers seeking published rates before making contact
• Projects without planning permission in place (bridging finance may be needed first)
• Borrowers who prioritise a fully digital, self-serve application process
• Developers wanting to compare costs upfront without engaging a broker

Key Facts

What Is Together Development Finance?

Together is a Cheadle-based specialist lender founded in 1974. It provides property finance for borrowers and projects that fall outside mainstream lending criteria. Development finance sits within its commercial lending arm, Together Commercial Finance Ltd.

How Together Development Finance Works

Together provides short-term development funding, typically 12 to 24 months. Funds are released in stages as the project reaches agreed milestones, rather than as a single lump sum. A relationship manager oversees the account throughout the build.

Each case is assessed on its individual merits. Complex income structures, non-standard credit histories, and unconventional property types are all within scope. Borrowers can apply directly or through an introducer broker.

Ground-Up vs Refurbishment Finance

Ground-up development finance covers new-build construction from cleared or undeveloped land. Refurbishment finance applies to existing structures undergoing major structural work or change-of-use conversion — for example, an office block being converted to flats.

Ground-up schemes typically involve longer programmes and higher contingency requirements. Refurbishment and conversion loans often complete faster but may require detailed structural surveys and planning evidence before drawdown begins.

Main Finance Options

Together’s development lending covers three broad categories: ground-up residential new-builds (including HMOs and multi-unit blocks), commercial site development (warehouses, retail, offices, leisure), and refurbishment or conversion projects.

Planning permission is a standard prerequisite for most development finance. Projects at the pre-planning stage may need bridging finance first, with development finance arranged once consent is secured.

Together Development Finance Rates and Fees

Interest Rates and Representative Costs

Together does not publish development finance rates. Pricing is agreed individually at application, based on project risk, loan size, borrower profile, and prevailing market conditions. For context, UK development finance rates typically run from around 0.7% to 1.3% per month — but that is a market reference, not Together’s rate.

Request a formal indicative terms letter before committing to cost modelling. Build sufficient contingency into your appraisal to absorb rate variation between indicative offer and final facility.

Fees and Charges

Together has not published a standard fee schedule for development finance. Arrangement fees, exit fees, monitoring surveyor costs, and legal fees are all typical. Each should be confirmed and itemised in the facility offer letter before you proceed.

Monitoring surveyor fees are usually charged to the borrower on each drawdown inspection. Legal costs cover both lender and borrower solicitors. Factor all of these into your total cost of capital, not just the headline interest rate.

What Affects Your Rate

Key variables include loan-to-cost ratio, loan-to-gross-development-value, site location, planning status, developer track record, exit route clarity, and current market conditions. Stronger loan metrics and a clear, credible exit typically support better pricing.

Experience matters: developers with a demonstrable track record of completed schemes of similar size and type are generally better placed to negotiate terms. Providing detailed appraisals, schedules of works, and planning documentation upfront accelerates credit assessment.

Together Development Finance Eligibility

Who Can Apply

Together lends to property developers, investors, and special purpose vehicles (SPVs). It considers applications from individuals, limited companies, LLPs, and partnerships. Non-standard income structures are within scope.

Applications can be made directly through Together’s commercial team or introduced via a registered broker. Broker-introduced cases benefit from a dedicated point of contact and typically move faster when supporting documentation is complete from the outset.

Property Types, LTC and LTGDV Requirements

Together accepts residential new-builds, HMOs, multi-unit freehold blocks, commercial development sites, and change-of-use conversions. Unusual or non-standard construction types may be assessed case-by-case with appropriate surveyor input.

Together does not publish LTC or LTGDV limits for development finance. UK market standards typically run to 65–70% LTGDV and 70–85% LTC, but these are market reference points only. Confirm applicable limits directly with Together before finalising your development appraisal.

Experience Requirements and Credit Assessment

Together assesses developer experience as part of its credit process. First-time developers are not automatically excluded, but limited track records receive closer scrutiny. A detailed project plan, credible contractor appointments, and strong planning documentation help offset inexperience.

Personal or corporate credit issues do not automatically disqualify an application, but they will factor into pricing and required security. Together’s stated positioning is that it considers cases mainstream lenders decline.

Together Development Finance Application Process

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted directly via together.co.uk or through an introducer broker. The initial stage is a discussion with Together’s commercial team to establish project scope, borrower profile, and indicative appetite. An in-principle indication can typically be provided at this stage.

For a formal credit application, you will need to submit a development appraisal, planning documents, schedule of works with cost breakdown, contractor details, evidence of previous development experience, and personal or corporate financial information.

Drawdown Structure and Monitoring

Facility funds are released in tranches linked to project milestones, not as a lump sum on day one. Each drawdown is preceded by an inspection from an appointed monitoring surveyor, who certifies that work has reached the agreed stage before funds are released.

Monitoring surveyor costs are typically charged to the borrower on each visit. Drawdown schedules are agreed in advance and form part of the facility documentation. Deviations from the agreed programme should be communicated to your relationship manager promptly.

Approval and Funding Times

Together does not publish headline approval or funding timescales for development finance. Timelines depend on case complexity, documentation quality, and the speed of third-party inputs such as valuations and legal work.

Instructing solicitors and commissioning a valuation early reduces the risk of delays. Ensuring all planning documents and cost schedules are complete before submission is the single most effective way to accelerate credit approval.

Together Development Finance Facility Terms and Risk

Term Lengths and Exit Strategies

Together’s development finance is short-term, typically 12 to 24 months, covering the build programme plus a sell-down or refinance period. Longer terms may be available for larger or more complex projects — confirm at application.

A credible and realistic exit strategy is a core credit requirement. The two standard exits are sale of completed units and refinance onto long-term investment or owner-occupier finance. Lenders scrutinise exit routes carefully: a speculative exit will affect both credit appetite and pricing.

Cost Overruns and Default Risk

Development finance carries inherent construction risk. Cost overruns, programme delays, contractor insolvency, and planning complications can all affect the project’s ability to repay on time. Hold a minimum 10–15% contingency within your development appraisal — higher for complex or conversion schemes.

If a project falls into difficulty, lenders typically appoint a receiver or take enforcement action over the security. Borrowers and their advisers must model downside scenarios carefully before drawing down.

Together Development Finance Customer Reviews

What Customers Like

Borrowers and brokers consistently cite Together’s appetite for complexity as its main differentiator. Cases involving non-standard income, unusual property types, or borrowers declined elsewhere are regularly cited as successful outcomes. The relationship-managed model is frequently referenced as a practical advantage.

Brokers note that Together’s commercial team engages substantively on cases before a formal application, reducing wasted time on unsuitable enquiries. Getting a credible indication early is valued in a market where many lenders credit-check first and engage second.

Common Complaints

The absence of published rates and criteria is a recurring frustration. Developers who prefer to model costs before engaging a lender find Together’s opacity difficult to work with at the early appraisal stage.

Some borrowers report that timelines from indicative terms to facility completion stretched longer than anticipated. Third-party dependencies — valuers, solicitors, monitoring surveyors — are common causes. Instructing advisers and ensuring documentation is complete before submission reduces this risk.

Together Support and Regulation

Customer Support

Together operates a relationship-managed model for commercial and development lending. Borrowers are assigned a dedicated point of contact within the commercial team rather than dealing with a general call centre. Broker-introduced clients have access to a dedicated broker support team.

Together’s commercial team can be reached via together.co.uk. For complex enquiries, a direct conversation rather than an online form submission is likely to produce a faster, more substantive response.

Regulatory Status and Complaints

Together Commercial Finance Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Verify the current Firm Reference Number at register.fca.org.uk before proceeding. FCA regulation gives borrowers access to the Financial Ombudsman Service if a complaint cannot be resolved directly with Together within eight weeks.

Together vs Alternatives

Together vs Maslow Capital Development Finance

Maslow Capital focuses on larger, institutional-grade development schemes. Together’s appetite extends further down the size range and covers more non-standard borrower profiles. Developers working on mid-market residential or conversion projects with complex ownership structures may find Together more accessible.

Maslow publishes more information about its typical deal parameters, which helps developers assess fit before making contact. Together’s case-by-case approach means eligibility is harder to pre-screen. See our Maslow Capital development finance review.

Together vs Close Brothers Development Finance

Close Brothers is a well-established specialist lender with a strong track record in residential development finance. It is often cited for speed of execution and consistent credit appetite across market cycles. For straightforward residential development, both lenders are viable options and should be compared on specific terms at application.

Together’s differentiation is its willingness to consider cases where other specialist lenders also hesitate — particularly around non-standard income and unusual property types. Read our Close Brothers development finance review.

Together vs Alternative Development Finance Lenders

Shawbrook Bank is a strong alternative for experienced developers seeking competitive pricing on mainstream residential schemes. Hilltop Credit Partners focuses on SME developers and is known for working with less experienced borrowers on smaller schemes. The right lender depends on project type, borrower profile, loan size, and the degree of complexity involved.

Running a broker comparison across Together, Shawbrook, and Close Brothers simultaneously is likely to produce better terms than approaching one lender exclusively. See our Shawbrook development finance review for more.

Final Verdict: Is Together Development Finance Worth It?

Together is a credible and well-established option for property developers, particularly those whose projects or profiles fall outside mainstream lending criteria. Its relationship-managed approach, broad property type appetite, and willingness to consider complex income structures set it apart from both high-street lenders and more institutionally focused specialists.

The absence of published rates is a genuine limitation at the early appraisal stage. It means Together is harder to screen without engaging a broker, and makes direct cost comparisons difficult until formal terms are issued. Model a range of rate scenarios before committing — do not assume the market reference range applies to your case.

For developers with clean profiles and straightforward schemes, run Together alongside two or three other lenders simultaneously. For developers with non-standard profiles or complex projects, Together’s flexible credit appetite makes it a strong first call. In both cases, a specialist development finance broker adds real value by navigating multiple lenders and benchmarking terms on your behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Together publish its development finance rates?

No. Pricing is agreed individually at application, based on project specifics and borrower profile. Request a formal indicative terms letter before building costs into your development appraisal.

What types of development project does Together finance?

Together lends on ground-up residential new-builds (including HMOs and multi-unit blocks), commercial site development (offices, retail, warehouses, leisure), and refurbishment or change-of-use conversions. Non-standard and complex property types are considered case-by-case.

Can first-time developers apply for Together development finance?

Yes, but limited track records receive closer scrutiny. Strong project documentation, credible contractor appointments, and detailed cost schedules help support an application where experience is limited.

How does the drawdown structure work?

Funds are released in stages linked to agreed project milestones. A monitoring surveyor inspects the site before each drawdown and certifies that work has reached the required stage. Surveyor costs are typically charged to the borrower. The drawdown schedule is agreed as part of the facility documentation.

What is the typical loan term for Together development finance?

Most facilities run for 12 to 24 months, covering the build programme plus a sell-down or refinance window. Longer terms may be available for larger or more complex schemes — confirm at the pre-application stage.

Can I apply through a broker?

Yes. Together works with introducer brokers as well as direct applications. Broker-introduced cases benefit from a dedicated contact within Together’s commercial team. Using a specialist development finance broker also enables parallel comparison across multiple lenders simultaneously.

Is Together regulated by the FCA?

Together Commercial Finance Ltd is FCA regulated. Verify the current Firm Reference Number at fca.org.uk before proceeding. FCA regulation gives borrowers access to the Financial Ombudsman Service if a complaint cannot be resolved directly within eight weeks.

This review is based on publicly available information from Together Commercial Finance Ltd, primary source review of together.co.uk, and analysis of the UK development finance market as of May 2026. Rates, fees, and criteria were not published by Together at the time of writing and should be confirmed directly at application. BusinessExpert does not provide financial advice.

Related guides

• Development finance guide
• Maslow Capital development finance review
• Close Brothers development finance review
• Shawbrook development finance review