What the 2025 Developer Survey Reveals About the State of the Market

The latest Developer Survey from CrowdProperty offers a fascinating window into where the UK property development sector stands today – and where it’s heading next.

The headline? This is an experienced, ambitious industry that’s eager to build more, but one still held back by planning delays, funding bottlenecks, and shifting market confidence.

Here’s what the data tells us – and what it means for developers in 2025 and beyond.

1. Experience is everywhere – but so are barriers to progress

Over half of the developers surveyed have 10+ years of experience, and most have completed multiple projects. It’s an obvious point, but this is not typically a market for beginners.

The good news is that such experience brings professionalism, realism, and persistence – all qualities lenders look for. The challenge, however, is that even seasoned developers are hitting the same obstacles:

• Planning delays that stall timelines and erode confidence

• Access to funding that’s slower or more complex than expected

• Rising labour and materials costs that reduce margins

It’s a familiar story – but it’s also a sign of a resilient sector that keeps adapting. For first-time developers, there’s still room to enter the market, but it requires the right partners, sound preparation, and realistic expectations.

Key Statistic:

52% of developers surveyed have more than 10 years’ experience in property, yet access to funding and planning delays remain among the most-cited barriers to growth.

This combination of deep experience and systemic constraint creates a paradox – the UK is rich in developer capability but short on delivery. It’s not a lack of will; it’s a lack of support.

2. A market defined by realism, not retreat

Residential refurbishments dominate the landscape, with light and heavy refurb projects accounting for the majority of current activity. Conversions and new-builds remain strong, while commercial projects make up a much smaller slice – reflecting shifting lender appetite and investor focus.

Key statistic:

58% of respondents undertake residential new builds, while 39% focus on heavy refurbishments and 42% on light refurbs - clear proof that residential activity still dominates.

Most developers are operating in the £100,000 – £1,000,000 GDV range, though a confident minority continue to tackle multi-million-pound schemes. 

This balance tells a clear story: developers are still active, but they’re structuring their projects more conservatively – seeking security and stability over speculative risk.

Developers expect +4% growth in property values over 12 months and +17% over five years. That’s cautious optimism – and it’s exactly the mindset lenders reward.

This isn’t retreat; it’s realism. Developers are adjusting expectations, managing capital carefully, and focusing on sustainable returns.

3. What developers want has changed

The most striking takeaway from this year’s survey isn’t about what developers are building – it’s about what they value in finance.

When asked what they want from lenders, the top answers were:

• Reliability

• Trusted relationships

• Speed and transparency

• Access to decision-makers

Key statistics:

When assessing lenders, developers ranked reliability (69%), trusted relationships (65%), access to decision makers (62%), team expertise (60%), transparency (59%), and speed (58%) as very important – showing that consistency now matters more than chasing the lowest rate.

In other words, rates matter, but they’re no longer the only factor. In an uncertain market, developers crave partners who can deliver consistent communication, fast turnaround times, and a real understanding of the project’s goals.

This marks a real shift in the psychology of funding. Developers have learned that certainty beats cheapness every time – especially when projects rely on tight schedules and lender confidence.

That’s where the role of a Specialist Property Finance Broker comes into its own. Our job at Clear Idea Finance isn’t just to find you the cheapest rate – it’s to find the right lender for the deal, navigate their criteria, and present your project in a way that earns confidence and approval.

Because in this climate, it’s not the loudest or cheapest lenders who win – it’s the most reliable ones.

4. The road ahead: opportunity through preparation

The survey points to one encouraging trend: developers plan to increase their project volume over the next three years. That ambition is a powerful sign of resilience, despite the ongoing challenges.

Key statistic:

A majority of developers plan to increase their project volume over the next three years, while 67% say an improved planning system – and 58% say better funding sources – would most help them build more homes.

This optimism isn’t naive – it’s calculated. Developers are realistic about short-term friction, but they see long-term opportunity. Growth will come not from taking bigger risks, but from better preparation.

Developers who invest time in detailed appraisals, conservative valuations, and well-structured finance packages will be the ones who secure funding and move fastest when opportunities arise.

As the CrowdProperty survey data shows, there’s appetite, capability, and ambition across the UK. The missing piece for many is access – to the right funding, the right structure, and the right relationships.

The final word:

The property development sector in 2025 is experienced, motivated, and cautiously optimistic. But progress depends on partners who understand the system – lenders who can move quickly, and brokers who can help developers to navigate an increasingly complex landscape.

At Clear Idea Finance, we specialise in doing exactly that – cutting through the jargon, approaching and comparing the most relevant lenders, and structuring deals that stand up to lender scrutiny.

If you’re planning your next project and want to explore your funding options – from bridging to development finance – get in touch.

👉 Contact Richard Grainger, Specialist Property Finance Broker at Clear Idea Finance. 

📧 richard@clearideafinance.com 

📞 01473 598132 | 07522 724388