It’s rarely just about accessing capital. Risk appetites, complex ownership structures, lender criteria, shifting regulatory expectations, and tight timelines all intersect. Without careful planning, any one of these factors can derail a transaction.
Large loans often involve multiple complicating factors. They may feature layered ownership structures that span several entities or jurisdictions, adding complexity to both the legal and due diligence processes. Some cases include offshore elements, which trigger additional compliance checks and regulatory considerations. Titles can be unusual or split, requiring detailed legal scrutiny to ensure there are no hidden restrictions or liabilities. Specialist valuations are frequently needed, and selecting the wrong valuer can lead to costly delays. There may also be significant tax planning considerations that influence the overall funding structure and lender appetite.
In our experience, large loans rarely fit into neat product categories. A developer might need a hybrid solution, part bridging, part development, perhaps with a second charge element to release equity. Off-the-shelf products simply can’t accommodate this level of complexity. Bespoke structuring, combined with meticulous packaging, is essential.
As the loan value rises so do the expectations of the borrower. A client securing an £8-10m development facility will, understandably, have different expectations to a client remortgaging a 3-bedroom buy-to-let. They will expect a more premium, anticipatory service. Every potential obstacle needs to be considered and mitigated before the case is presented to a lender.
The same applies from the lender’s perspective, the way in which a large loan is presented to them matters. They want to see clearly see the opportunity, see how risks have been mitigated to give them and their credit teams confidence.
One recent example was a £17.7 million development finance facility we worked on, to redevelop a former commercial site into two new residential blocks, including affordable housing, alongside commercial units. The deal involved resolving a tricky legal dispute, managing tenant-related delays, and navigating planning conditions. By taking a proactive approach and leveraging an existing valuation from the bridging phase we were able to complete in just over two weeks, despite the project’s significant challenges.
When it comes to large loans, first impressions matter. A lender’s initial view of a proposal will shape the credit process that follows. Structuring and positioning a case correctly from day one is critical, it may take more time upfront, but it prevents far greater delays later.
Equally important is knowing where to place the deal. While the largest banks were once the default choice for big-ticket finance, today’s lending landscape is far more diverse. Many specialist lenders now have the appetite and capability to fund high-value, complex scenarios. But this isn’t information you’ll find on a rate card, it comes from experience, relationships, and real-time insight into how lenders operate.
At Aria, we see how different lenders perform in practice, not just in principle. We know their preferences, their pain points, and where they can be flexible. This means we can match a case to the right lender quickly and effectively, avoiding dead ends and wasted time.
Large specialist loans demand more than lender access, they demand knowledge, influence, and foresight. For brokers, partnering with a specialist who has these assets can turn a high-stakes challenge into a well-managed, successful outcome.
There isn’t a distinct “large loan market”; these cases emerge when a client’s ambitions outgrow standard funding options. Brokers want to deliver for their clients even when a deal sits outside their everyday remit. That’s where we add value, not by taking over, but by providing the additional bandwidth, insight, and connections needed to get the deal over the line.
Large loans are complex, but with the right expertise and relationships in place, complexity can be turned into confidence and into results your clients will remember for all the right reasons.