UK: Build-to-rent (BTR) developer Placefirst has delivered a £21 million residential development in central Halifax, transforming a long-vacant brownfield site into 122 new rental homes.
The scheme, called Bolt Works, occupies the site of a former multi-storey car park off Cow Green and marks Halifax’s first purpose-built rental community. It was officially opened at a ceremony attended by Calderdale Mayor Ann Kingstone.
Developed in partnership with Calderdale Council, the project supports wider regeneration goals outlined in the council’s “Next Chapter” programme and complements nearby infrastructure works under the A629 town centre improvement project.
Designed with JM Architects, the one- and two-bedroom apartments incorporate a range of low-carbon technologies, including solar panels, heat pumps, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), all housed within a thermally efficient building envelope.
Phil Jones, director of development at Placefirst, said: “As consumers increasingly place quality at a premium and treat renting as an active choice, we remain committed to creating sustainable developments that add value for both residents and the wider urban environment.”
Funding for the development came from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund and a loan from the Greater Manchester Pension Fund. The main contractor was Caddick Construction, supported by a project team including Walker Sime, Roscoe, Hydrock, Stantec, TACE, Currie & Brown and DEP Landscape Architecture.
Cllr Scott Patient, cabinet member for climate action and housing at Calderdale Council, said the project supports the area’s goal of “thriving towns and places” by creating new homes in a central location and reducing environmental impact.
West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin called the scheme “a blueprint for successful public-private collaboration,” highlighting its alignment with the region’s brownfield redevelopment objectives.
Highlights:
- Placefirst completes 122-home build-to-rent scheme in Halifax
- Bolt Works is Halifax’s first BTR community
- Scheme backed by Brownfield Housing Fund and GMPF loan
