Bridging lender West One has claimed that gross lending in bridging finance this year will reach £800 million for the first time.

According to its new quarterly Bridging Finance Index, West One reported that the volume of loans advanced has risen 26% year on year (to the end of August) as an increasing number of property investors have turned to the sector to finance their projects. Gross lending rose 46% in the same period.

Duncan Kreeger, chairman of West One Loans, said: “The buy-to-let market is extremely strong at the moment