What the Autumn Budget 2026 Means for UK Bridging Lenders?

Chancellor John Healey’s first Autumn Budget, delivered on 28 October 2026, set out close to 100 measures.

The headline business measure was £20.4 billion of extra capital for the state’s business lender and infrastructure bank. Of this, £15.4 billion goes to the National Wealth Fund and £5 billion to the British Business Bank over roughly five years. The Budget also included a higher first-year capital allowance, wider export finance support and measures to reduce business administration costs. Lenders who fund through BBB-backed facilities, or who serve SME developers, should watch how this capital is distributed.

For banks, the surcharge rises to 6% on profits above £100m, starting in January and lasting 15 months, to help pay for energy support. Most specialist and non-bank lenders sit below that threshold or outside the banking definition, so they may gain a modest competitive advantage over high-street banks.

The property picture matters most for this sector. Stamp duty was left completely untouched despite industry calls for reform, and critics argued the Chancellor overlooked property and housing almost entirely. The Budget confirmed £4.7bn of Government-backed lending for the Your First Home scheme, but first-time buyers will not be able to use it until Spring 2027. Commentators warned that if smaller developers cannot afford to join, the scheme favours volume builders. That is a point for development lenders to consider when assessing exit strategies on new-build schemes.

Kieran Jones, NACFB head of communications and advocacy, said the Budget’s real test is whether its commitments turn into productive investment. He also noted that commercial finance brokers play a key role in connecting available capital with the borrowers who need it.