- Build-to-rent developer Placefirst has completed a 122-home scheme in Halifax’s town centre.
- The £21m scheme dubbed ‘Bolt Works’ is built on the site of a former multi-storey car park at Cow Green.
- The project is Placefirst’s most sustainable development to date, with PV panels and heat pumps used throughout.
Build-to-rent (BTR) developer Placefirst has completed a £21m, 122-home residential scheme in Halifax town centre, further expanding its portfolio of high-quality, professionally managed rental communities.
The project, dubbed Bolt Works, delivered on a brownfield site previously occupied by a multi-storey car park, represents Placefirst’s most sustainable development to date. Featuring a thermally efficient building envelope, photovoltaic panels, heat pumps, and wastewater recovery systems, the scheme is designed to drive long-term operational efficiencies while reducing environmental impact and delivering lower bills for consumers.
Located off Cow Green in Halifax, the development comprises a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments tailored for the modern rental market. Designed in collaboration with JM Architects, the scheme draws inspiration from Halifax’s rich heritage while integrating with Calderdale Council’s wider town centre regeneration strategy, including transformation of travel and public spaces through the A629 phase 2 Halifax town centre project.
Calderdale Council and Placefirst have worked closely in partnership to deliver the scheme. The new homes support the Council’s priorities for thriving towns and places, reducing inequalities and climate action. The development also supports the Calderdale Next Chapter(external link) transformation work, delivering economic regeneration through an unprecedented level of investment. The homes at Bolt Works have been built on the site of a car park that was demolished in 2016. Calderdale Council approved Placefirst’s transformation of the site after considering uses that were “appropriate to its prominence”, being situated on a key gateway into Halifax.
This news follows Placefirst’s recent announcement that it will deliver more than 500 BTR homes in Leeds in a joint venture that will run to 2028.
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.
Caddick Construction acted as the main contractor for the scheme, delivering the project in close collaboration with Placefirst and a team of expert consultants, including JM architects, Walker Sime, Roscoe, Hydrock, Stantec, TACE, Currie and Brown and DEP Landscape Architecture.
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. We are proud to have worked in partnership with Calderdale Council to bring this vision to life and look forward to future opportunities in the region.”
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Housing, Cllr Scott Patient, said:
“The new homes at Bolt Works support our priority for thriving towns and places, regenerating underused spaces and creating much-needed homes, in a great central location.
“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. When we established the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund, it was with sustainable, considerate schemes like this in mind – and it’s great to see the funds being put to good use.”
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.
“Caddick has been delivering first-class builds across the region for over 45 years, with a great number of those being new neighbourhoods and high-rise residential schemes, which makes us the perfect fit for this project. We’re pleased to have officially handed over Bolt Works to Placefirst to now welcome the first residents.”