Bridging & Development Lenders Association (BDLA)

At the Bridging & Development Lenders Association (BDLA), we protect and promote the interests of our lender members and their customers. As the only trade association dedicated to bridging and development lenders, we give confidence to all parties who transact business with the sector, helping to raise standards and build growth in a sustainable, customer-focused market. We regularly engage with journalists, regulators and policy makers to raise awareness and increase engagement with the sector. Formerly known as the Association of Short Term Lenders (ASTL), the association originally launched in 2008, and since then we have played an instrumental role in helping to grow the size and reputation of the bridging and development lending industry. In 2023, we launched the Certified Practitioner in Specialist Property Finance (CPSP), following a joint initiative with the Financial Intermediary & Broker Association (FIBA) and the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF), and this represents a major stepping stone in continuing to enhance standards, increase professionalism and advance the reputation of the specialist finance sector.