Jointly heading up the combined division will be West One’s current head of bridging finance, Tom Cantor, and its current head of development finance, Guy Murray.

The move is aimed at offering a more integrated solution to property developers and investors, while allowing the lender to take a more joined-up view across projects and create a smoother customer process for brokers and their clients.

In practice, the integration also plans to make switching between two products seamless for the lender’s clients.

Last year the firm’s bridging and development finance divisions set a new record by achieving a combined total of £1bn in completions — West One also increased the bridging team’s headcount by 14%, while the development finance team grew by 30%.

Commenting on the integration, Danny Waters, CEO at Enra Specialist Finance, West One Loans’ parent company (pictured above), said: “Our bridging and development finance divisions have consistently exceeded expectations, achieving record completions in 2023 despite a challenging market.

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“But while they are performing at a high-level individually, we believe combining their expertise into one business unit will enhance our short-term lending proposition even further.

“This merger is about creating greater scale, stronger resilience and more cohesive management — all aimed at delivering an even better service for our customers.”

Guy Murray, Co-Head of short-term lending at West One, said: "This move is a game-changer for our short-term lending proposition.

“By bringing our bridging and development finance teams into one business unit, we’re able to offer a truly integrated solution that’s tailored to the unique needs of individual clients.

“Switching products or lenders half-way through a project can be challenging and time-consuming. With our new combined solution, that’s no longer a concern, as we can take them from start to finish with just a single application.”

Tom Cantor, co-head of short term lending at West One, added: "This move is all about making the lives of brokers and their clients easier by providing them with a one-stop shop solution for their short-term borrowing needs.

“Under the new structure, they can expect faster decisions and more flexibility throughout their project. It’s all about delivering a service that truly understands and supports their ambitions."