Yes, I too have been assessing this situation through BBC reports.
Why is our USA media in treating politicians like rock stars, rather than giving us the facts on real issues?

You can find our how we have been hoodwinked by reading Andrew J. Bacevich’s new book, THE LIMITS OF POWER: THE END OF AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM.

It is the shame faced truth.

Now for property development:
Before we had the Feds and Wall Street in the game, there were a number of “do-it-yourself” means of financing development.
Check out the history of the City of Anaheim, CA. Bone up on Savings and Home Cooperatives, some times called “home building societies”.
My brother told me that the German banks sell construction bonds to local investors for local commercial construction projects.
Go to the horse’s mouth. That is pension funds and insurance companies and land owners. Do not be shy about asking non-profits [who can get grants] to become partners.

Your ideas here.

A Linda prediction:
Now comes the age of creative financing.

PS: Wall Street got its name from that part of town being walled off to keep the neighborhood pigs out. Oops! Looks like they found their way in anyway.