Of the 100 intermediaries polled, some 20% strongly agreed that their confidence is set to grow, while only 4% thought their confidence in the market might drop.

The bridging lender said that while the effects of the 2024 Budget and speculation around the 2025 Budget had dampened investor confidence and led to hesitation, intermediaries are going into 2026 with new-found clarity on economic policy, prompting a new sense of optimism in the market.

When asked which area of the market represented the biggest opportunity for the bridging sector over the next 12 months, 57% of respondents suggested re-bridging deals.

Development exit refinance and residential purchases came joint second with 11% of the vote each.

Re-bridging deals are seen as the biggest driver of growth in all regions except London, where the results were more mixed.

Residential purchases came out on top in the capital with 36% of the vote, while re-bridging received 29% and commercial property acquisitions received 14%.

Black & White’s research also found sentiment had improved since 2024.

Nine in 10 intermediaries polled said their confidence in the market had increased over the last 12 months, while only one in 50 reported their confidence had fallen.

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However, the positive sentiment is not spread equally across the country: 95% of brokers outside London said their confidence in the market had grown over the last year, while only 64% of those operating in the capital said the same.

Damien Druce, COO at Black & White Bridging (pictured above), said: “Despite brokers’ concerns around the chaotic Autumn Budget and the turbulence of the last few months, it’s reassuring to see that confidence in the mortgage and bridging market is looking so high.

“Following two challenging Autumn Budgets in a row, market conditions can only improve.

“If brokers are right and 2026 does turn out to be economically more positive, bridging products are set to provide fast and flexible financing for investors looking to make quick, strategic deals.

“Months of budget speculation around a mansion tax have dampened the London market more significantly than other areas of the UK.

“Wealthy people are selling up and leaving the country in their droves, leading to an oversupply at the top of London’s market and less demand for higher-value properties.

“As a result, developers and property investors have been less willing to take risks in the capital.

“But investor sentiment looks set to change in 2026 as the market returns to some sort of normality after the carnage of the Budget.”