Bridging loans can be used to buy land without planning permission
Unregulated bridging finance is the primary tool for acquiring rural land quickly before planning is granted.
Buying raw land without planning permission is highly speculative, and high-street banks will not touch it. However, unregulated bridging lenders specialize in these transactions.
A bridging loan can provide up to 50-65% of the land's current value. The strategy for off-grid investors is to use a bridging loan to secure the site, spend 9-12 months obtaining Permitted Development or full planning permission, and then refinance onto a development facility based on the new, significantly higher Gross Development Value (GDV).
Because the interest on bridging can be retained upfront, you don't need to make monthly payments while waiting for the council to approve your plans.