Iron Bridge Finance, a mezzanine and equity funder established in 2014, has launched a property development division with construction underway on a 44-home scheme in Islington with a gross development value of £40m.
The development vehicle, Iron Bridge London, has begun work on Frederick’s Row at 8 Frederick’s Row, EC1V, located between Angel and Islington. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2028, with architecture practice Bureau de Change designing the New York-inspired apartments.
Expansion into direct development
The move represents a strategic shift for Iron Bridge Finance, which has provided more than £330m in mezzanine and equity funding across over 300 projects since its inception. The firm’s portfolio includes 83 equity investments in schemes with a combined GDV exceeding £2bn.
Iron Bridge London is now seeking additional development opportunities across London and the South-East, targeting sites in Zones 1 to 3 valued between £1m and £20m. The firm has indicated it can purchase unconditionally or subject to planning consent, and will consider joint ventures, development agreements and equity participation structures.
Management team and market positioning
The development arm’s senior team includes Edward Alexson as chief executive, Marc Delane as director of development, and Jonathan Werth as director of sales. Werth previously founded estate agency LIFE Residential, which expanded to 13 global locations before its acquisition by Dexters. Delane has delivered schemes ranging from £15m to £100m for London boroughs and private equity investors.
Lance Joseph, founder and chairman of Iron Bridge London, said the company is “bringing that experience together with an exceptional team covering development, planning, architecture, construction and sales and putting our own capital behind the projects we believe in.”
The firm’s approach combines direct capital access with in-house development expertise, supported by planning non-executives with experience of the London planning system. Katerina Dionysopoulou, an architect and co-founder of Bureau de Change, also forms part of the team.
The launch comes as the London development market continues to evolve, with developers facing challenges around financing costs and planning constraints. Iron Bridge London’s model of combining established finance operations with direct development activity reflects a broader trend of lenders moving into principal investment roles.
