Our Developer Survey 2025 reveals a sector that is experienced, confident, and planning for growth despite ongoing challenges.
Following a recent rebrand, CrowdProperty launched its Developer Survey 2025 to better understand the property development market, along with the challenges and opportunities facing those within it. We surveyed our database of more than 16,000 UK property developers, giving us unique insight into the sector and developer sentiment.
The results are in, and they reveal a sector full of experience, hungry for growth, confident about finance, and positive about the future. Here’s our take on the key insights and sentiments, followed by an opportunity to download a summary of key results.
1. Experience runs deep
Almost every respondent has completed at least one project, showing this is a highly active and engaged developer community. Within that, 61% of those who have delivered six or more projects have been in property for over 20 years.
This demonstrates that development is rarely a short-term pursuit – it’s a career built steadily over decades, where knowledge, contacts, and credibility accumulate to enable larger, more ambitious projects. For newcomers, it’s a reminder that today’s smaller schemes can be the foundation for tomorrow’s multi-million-pound developments. As one developer put it: “You learn something new on every project – the key is to apply it to the next one.”
2. Regional diversity matters
Developers reported activity across every UK region, highlighting that opportunities and challenges are spread nationwide. Within this, the strongest concentrations are in London and the South East, though meaningful development is happening in the Midlands, North, and South West too.
This indicates that developers typically focus on areas of familiarity, building pipelines around known markets, trades, and agents. As one respondent explained: “I stick to the areas I know best – contacts, trades, and local agents make all the difference in getting a project right.”
3. Scale grows with experience
All developers start small, but the scale of projects grows with experience. Among those newer to the industry, 50% typically deliver projects worth £100k–£500k, whereas 13% of the most experienced are already handling schemes worth £5m+.
This sharp divide illustrates how track record and confidence can unlock access to finance and bigger opportunities. Developers who build credibility through early projects can leverage that to secure funding for larger, riskier, but more rewarding schemes. As one experienced developer put it: “The jump from small refurbs to multi-million-pound builds only happens when lenders believe in your track record.”
4. Networking is non negotiable
93% of developers surveyed attend property events, proving that networking remains central to success. Within this, many seasoned developers attend multiple events each year to expand their contacts and stay connected to opportunities.
Despite digital alternatives, property is still a relationship-first business. For less experienced developers, this is a crucial insight: being in the right rooms can accelerate both knowledge and deal flow. As one participant said: “Deals don’t happen on Zoom – you need to be in the room, building trust.”
5. Developers are confident about finance
Only 12.5% of experienced developers and 10.9% of less experienced developers said they use brokers because they are “unsure of the market.” This shows that uncertainty plays only a very minor role in developers’ decision to work with brokers.
Instead, most developers are confident in navigating finance themselves and turn to brokers for strategic reasons such as efficiency, convenience, or access to wider funding options. This reflects a self-assured, informed community that knows how to manage its finance choices.
6. Community platforms drive engagement
A striking 80.9% of developers use Facebook for property purposes, making it the most widely used platform for property engagement. Within this, many developers say Facebook groups and forums are their primary source of leads and peer-to-peer advice.
This contrasts with broader professional trends where LinkedIn dominates. For developers, however, informal, community-driven networks still play the biggest role. As one respondent put it: “I get more leads from a single Facebook forum than I ever have from LinkedIn.”
7. Optimism for the future is strong
Most developers expect to undertake more projects over the coming three years, indicating strong confidence across the industry. Within this group, the majority also anticipate property values rising both over the next 12 months and the next five years.
This combination of short-term and long-term optimism demonstrates that the development community sees opportunities ahead, even as they acknowledge challenges such as planning delays and rising costs.
8. Planning reform would unlock delivery
When asked what would enable them to deliver more homes, developers consistently pointed to systemic barriers. The three most cited enablers were faster planning, easier access to land, and more flexible finance.
This reinforces that developers are motivated to build, but frustrated by the inefficiencies of the system around them. As one respondent stressed: “Speeding up planning would have more impact than anything else – it’s the biggest barrier we face.”
Key takeaways
The survey results highlight clear patterns in how UK property developers are operating, what challenges they face, and where opportunities lie. Here are the standout insights at a glance:
- Majority plan to do more projects in the next three years – long-term sentiment is positive
- 93% of developers attend property events – networking is non negotiable
- 61% of experienced developers have 20+ years in property – experience compounds over time
- 13%+ of experienced developers handle £5m+ schemes – scale comes with track record
- 80.9% of developers use Facebook for property activity – community still dominates
- Developers are active across all UK regions, each with unique opportunities and challenges
- 12.5% (experienced) and 10.9% (less experienced) use brokers through uncertainty – confidence high
- Planning delays remain the biggest barrier to building more homes
Download key findings
These findings are just a selection of the insights uncovered. For a concise overview of the main data points and trends, you can download the survey summary of key findings here.
Together we build
At CrowdProperty, we’ve helped thousands of developers avoid these pitfalls – from the first site appraisal to the final sale. Our tailored funding solutions and trusted network of professionals mean you can focus on project delivery.
We understand the challenges of property development, and we can support you throughout your project. If you’re a developer looking for funding, propose your project, call us on 0203 012 0166 or email our Direct Team.