Placefirst completes Halifax’s first BTR scheme
Caddick Construction was the main contractor on the £121m, 122- home Bolt Works project, built on a former multi-storey carpark.
The block is the town’s first BTR scheme, and was designed by JM Architects as part of phase two of the Halifax town centre project.
The wider project team included Walker Sime, Roscoe, Hydrock, Stantec, TACE, Currie and Brown and DEP Landscape Architecture.
Placefirst has said the project is its most sustainable yet, with PV panels, MVHR units, and heat pumps used throughout.
Located in the town centre, the former brownfield site is next to Cow Green and is made up of one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Placefirst worked closely with Calderdale Council on the scheme, which started after the former car park was demolished in 2016, having been deemed unsafe.
The scheme was funded primarily by Placefirst with contributions from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund and a loan from the Greater Manchester Pension Fund.
Phil Jones, director of development at Placefirst, commented: “The completion of Bolt Works marks another milestone in our mission to provide much-needed rental homes in key regional locations.
“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.
“The project is a prime example of how underused town centre sites can be transformed into thriving, high-quality communities that align with local regeneration ambitions.”
Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for climate action and housing, cllr Scott Patient, said: “The development contributes to wider regeneration work across Halifax and the Calderdale area, creating a place where people want to live, work, study and do business.
“I’m also pleased to see sustainability at the heart of the development, with innovative technologies used to improve energy efficiency and reduce the building’s environmental impact, supporting our climate objectives.”
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Converting disused brownfield sites into communities where people can thrive is a priority across West Yorkshire, and Placefirst’s new homes at Bolt Works in Halifax should be treated as a blueprint for successful public-private collaboration in meeting this goal.”
Steve Ford, regional managing director at Caddick Construction Yorkshire and North East, said: “The Bolt Works project has proved what’s possible when unused brownfield sites are redeveloped with the community at the forefront and we are proud to have been a part of this fantastic development for Halifax.”
