Green light for Placefirst in Halifax

Build-to-rent provider Placefirst has secured planning permission for its £21m scheme on a town centre brownfield site.

The BTR development will transform the site of a former multi-storey car park into 122 homes, a mixture of one and two-bedroom apartments, built specifically for private rent at Cow Green.

Designed in partnership with JM Architects, the scheme is intended to fit into a series of public realm and highway improvements in the Cow Green area.

Placefirst’s professional team includes DEP Landscape, Walker Sime, Roscoe, TACE and Maddox Planning.

The developer said that Cow Green will be its most sustainable project to date as it transitions towards net zero, with a thermally efficient building envelope bolstered by photovoltaic panels, air source heat pumps and wastewater heat recovery. The scheme will also include electric vehicle charging and an electric car club for residents.

Furthermore, the firm said, the plans will dovetail with current and future ‘Calderdale The Next Chapter’ proposals for the town centre such as the refurbishment of the bus station and the train station gateway.

A start on site is expected this year, with completion intended for 2025. Placefirst’s in-house resident services team will then manage the site.

Other Placefirst schemes in Yorkshire include Skye Edge in Sheffield, a family community of 113 homes. In Bolton, Caddick Construction started work on a £35m Placefirst project in February.

James Litherland, planning and development manager at Placefirst, said: “Our aim is to set the standard for build-to-rent in the town centre which we believe has untapped potential.

“We want to create a lasting and positive impact on the local area and we look forward to starting work on site later this year.”