The number of bridging loans written rose by 16.9% in the quarter ending 31 June 2013, according to bridging trade body, the Association of Short Term Lenders (ASTL).

The number of applications rose by 5.3% to over 2,600. Meanwhile, the value of the applications increased by 15% quarter-on-quarter as ASTL members received applications totalling £1.280 billion, up from £1.113 billion in the previous quarter.

ASTL members lent £281 million worth of loans in the quarter, down just slightly from the £283 million lent in the quarter up until the end of March, but there was also an overall increase of over 3.5% in the value of the lenders’ loan books as the total loan book at the end of period was worth £1.140 billion up from £1.102 billion.

Benson Hersch (pictured), chief executive of the ASTL, said: “The figures reflect the continuing steady increase I expected revealing the ongoing need for bridging finance. This has not decreased, despite pressure by government and promises by mainstream banks to lend more, as a result, short term loans are filling the gap in many instances.

“As well as for traditional purposes of bridging the gap between when people sell one property and buy another, it is clear that bridging and other alternative funding methods are increasingly being used by SMEs to meet their funding requirements. Members report steady demand in the current quarter and I expect the next quarter’s figures, to continue to show the same increase.”