Placefirst’s £21m BTR scheme in Halifax town centre approved

Leading and award-winning build-to-rent provider Placefirst has secured planning permission for its £21m BTR scheme in Halifax town centre.

The development will transform the site of a former multi-storey car park into 122 high-quality sustainable 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 takes inspiration from the town’s rich heritage and will integrate with the Council’s wider Cow Green public realm and highway improvements. Other key members of the project team include DEP Landscape, Walker Sime, Roscoe, TACE and Maddox Planning.

Cow Green will be Placefirst’s 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.

The plans contribute to Calderdale Council’s vision to turn Halifax into a vibrant place to live, work and visit. They also 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.

Construction will commence at Cow Green later this year with completion expected in 2025, after which Placefirst will remain on site and be responsible for every aspect of the neighbourhood, via its in-house residents services team.

Placefirst’s work at Cow Green builds on its track record of delivering quality BTR and single-family rental schemes, and adds to its portfolio in Yorkshire such as Skye Edge in Sheffield, a thriving family community of 113 homes with incredible hilltop views across the city.

James Litherland, planning and development manager commented: “We are delighted that Calderdale Council has approved our plans to transform this brownfield site into a new sustainable BTR community within Halifax. 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.”