Over seven in 10 (72%) intermediaries have predicted growth in the bridging market in 2025, research by Black & White Bridging has found.

The short-term lender’s latest survey also revealed that one in 10 intermediaries have forecast high growth, as demand for flexible finance continues to increase.

Black & White said its findings suggest a "robust" outlook for the sector, with a 4:4:1 ratio of growth to contraction predictions.

Furthermore, this optimism was felt across both residential and commercial transactions, with brokers citing increased awareness of bridging as a financial tool, greater flexibility from lenders and strong investor appetite as key drivers of growth.

The firm added that its findings paint an even more optimistic picture than the latest industry data.

The most recent Bridging Trends Q1 2025 report revealed that gross lending remained steady at £202m, with completion times improving despite increased volumes.

Applications increased slightly from the previous quarter and there was also a rise in investment in investment-driven bridging loans, which Black & White said is a "sign of a market building steady momentum".

Chief operating officer at Black & White Bridging, Damien Druce, said: "Our survey results reinforce and go beyond the positive indicators we’ve seen in the wider market data.

"While Q1 figures show a resilient and active market, brokers are clearly seeing strong forward pipelines and greater client appetite for short-term lending solutions. That one in 10 are predicting high growth speaks volumes about the sector’s strength as we move further into 2025."

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