Leading UK build-to-rent provider Placefirst has appointed Anna Hwang as its new assets and strategy director, as the business moves forward with its ambitious growth plans. This is a new role and key addition to the senior leadership team for Placefirst. Anna joins with over 20 years’ experience in the
Placefirst, one of the UK’s leading build-to-rent providers, has submitted plans to develop over 120 apartments in Halifax town centre. The plans for the £16 million development at Cow Green will see the former multi-storey car park site transformed into high-quality homes for rent and, if approved, it will deliver
Leading and award-winning build-to-rent provider Placefirst has reported record property portfolio growth, demonstrating continued commitment to expansion plans. The regeneration specialist has doubled its portfolio since January 2021 and has hit an important milestone of 1500 homes. Placefirst is on track to reach a projected milestone of 6500 homes by
Placefirst’s £8m Manchester residential scheme of 53 high quality apartments in Longsight has topped out. Placefirst is a leading and award-winning build-to-rent provider with over 1,300 homes, and a further 1,000 in the pipeline and under construction. Work on the development began in March 2021. The topping out represents an
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Leading UK build-to-rent provider Placefirst has appointed Anna Hwang as its new assets and strategy director, as the business moves forward with its ambitious growth plans. This is a new role and key addition to the senior leadership team for Placefirst. Anna joins with over 20 years’ experience in the property sector and will be responsible for developing and executing Placefirst’s real estate strategy, which looks to build on recent success as the business aims to reach 6,500 homes in the coming years. Anna joins Placefirst from Savills, where she was director of operational capital markets for two years, consulting with clients to drive their strategy and achieve maximum growth. Prior to this, Anna was a partner at investment and asset management specialist Addington Capital. Anna joins at a pivotal time for Placefirst which has established itself as a leader in the single-family BTR market, both through existing award-winning neighbourhoods and an exciting pipeline of UK wide projects. This pipeline includes 122 apartments at Cow Green in Halifax approved in March, 146 homes at Benwell Dene in Newcastle submitted in April, and 366 units in Wolverhampton. Placefirst are also now on site in Bolton, delivering a 167 unit neighbourhood in partnership with the council. Commenting on her appointment, Anna said: “I am delighted to be joining Placefirst at such an exciting time for the business. Our position as an industry leader in the market is shown through a number of high-profile schemes currently being built or in planning, and it is important we continue to be influential in the industry and create communities where people are proud to live and rent for the long term, in an exciting and growing residential sector. I look forward to working closely with David and the wider team to deliver this next phase of growth which will see the business expand at an impressive rate.” David Mawson, chief executive officer at Placefirst added: “We are thrilled to welcome Anna to Placefirst, bringing with her over 20 year’s experience and knowledge of the industry. With Anna’s skills in strategy and asset management, this new role encompasses the ambition that Placefirst has and will help us to progress at a national scale. Our plan is to continue on our path in delivering best-in-class BTR communities and contributing to answering the huge demand for quality private rented accommodation across the UK.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Placefirst, one of the UK’s leading build-to-rent providers, has submitted plans to develop over 120 apartments in Halifax town centre. The plans for the £16 million development at Cow Green will see the former multi-storey car park site transformed into high-quality homes for rent and, if approved, it will deliver a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments with bike storage and electric car charging points. Designed as a nine-storey building by JM Architects, the development takes inspiration from the town’s rich heritage and will integrate with the Council’s wider Cow Green highway improvements through attractive landscape features and public realm. Placefirst is working collaboratively with West Yorkshire Combined Authority on the delivery of the scheme, while pre-application advice has been sought from Calderdale Council and a public consultation. “We are excited to submit our plans to regenerate this area in the centre of Halifax with our most sustainable scheme to date. We have worked closely with the Combined Authority and Calderdale Council to ensure the scheme delivers the shared objectives of all partners and sets the standard for high quality build-to-rent in Halifax. We hope that the proposals are well received and look forward to starting work next summer to create new homes for residents,” said James Litherland, planning and development manager at Placefirst. Plans for Cow Green represent Placefirst’s most sustainable project to date as it transitions towards ‘net zero’. A fabric first approach has been taken to maximise the thermal performance of the building in addition to renewable and efficient technologies including photovoltaic panels, air source heat pumps, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and wastewater heat recovery. This will deliver a superior EPC rating which will limit energy consumption and allow for lower bills for residents. The proposal links closely to Calderdale’s vision for Halifax as a vibrant place to live, work and visit, and plans 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. Placefirst is well known for creating quality, well-maintained rental neighbourhoods in multiple regions across the UK, and this scheme in Halifax would follow in the footsteps of its other successful developments including ‘Elevate’, 53 high-spec apartments near Manchester city centre, and ‘Skye Edge’, a thriving family community of 113 new build homes with incredible hilltop views across Sheffield. Once each neighbourhood is complete, Placefirst also maintain a presence on site and manage their neighbourhoods with skilled, friendly in-house teams, and dedicated resident services managers. If approved, work is expected to start in mid-2023 and would be completed by 2025. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading and award-winning build-to-rent provider Placefirst has reported record property portfolio growth, demonstrating continued commitment to expansion plans. The regeneration specialist has doubled its portfolio since January 2021 and has hit an important milestone of 1500 homes. Placefirst is on track to reach a projected milestone of 6500 homes by 2026. This milestone follows a year of major development success in 2021, bolstering Placefirst’s reputation as a front runner in the build-to-rent industry with a proven track record of creating quality homes designed specifically for long-term renters. One key project has been the launch of ‘Elevate’, an £8m apartment scheme in Manchester. Elevate has brought back into use a former Jobcentre by repurposing the building and adding a new top floor to give it a new lease of life. The scheme is now in its final stages and delivers 53 modern apartments. Elevate will complete in spring 2022 and has attracted huge interest, hitting a pre let figure of 75% this week. In addition to Elevate, both Placefirst’s Skye Edge and Scholars View developments are also due to complete in spring 2022. And the final phase of Placefirst’s iconic award-winning Welsh Streets development in Liverpool, which began in 2016, will be submitted for planning in the autumn. To support the growth plans, Placefirst is continuing to develop its pipeline across the UK. Standout schemes include Esh Winning, which received planning approval at the end of last year. The brownfield site will be transformed into a neighbourhood of 89 new homes, and will be the largest delivery of bungalows in a generation. Work is set to start on site this year. In Bolton, Placefirst is working on an exciting scheme in collaboration with Bolton Council. The project is set to deliver over 150 rental homes in the town centre as part of a significant regeneration project. A £65m residential scheme in Wolverhampton for 366 new homes and commercial space as part of a major regeneration project in the heart of the city’s historic Canalside Quarter, also received full planning approval in the final quarter of 2021. Placefirst is committed to creating thriving neighbourhoods with a strong sense of place, operating an end-to-end service which includes a dedicated resident services manager and community engagement initiatives. The last two years have seen the landscape of the private rental market change as people look to move to areas that offer a sense of place, and provision to stay long-term. Placefirst’s homes are designed to provide everything you could want for modern living with pets allowed, private and communal garden areas, strong sustainability credentials and quality guaranteed by delivering homes that are designed specifically for rent. David Mawson, chief executive at Placefirst comments: “We are delighted to have doubled our portfolio in the past year. The 1500 homes milestone is an incredible achievement for the business, extends our track record as a specialist in the single family housing market, and is a culmination of the hard work that is put into each of our developments. We provide an end-to-end service; designing, letting and managing every neighbourhood and always keep high quality and our residents at the forefront of our values. “The impact of our developments has been fantastic; we have a track record of delivering high-spec homes to our communities through placemaking and innovative regeneration. We are excited about future projects and look forward to continuing our success.”
Placefirst’s £8m Manchester residential scheme of 53 high quality apartments in Longsight has topped out. Placefirst is a leading and award-winning build-to-rent provider with over 1,300 homes, and a further 1,000 in the pipeline and under construction. Work on the development began in March 2021. The topping out represents an exciting construction milestone, with the former job centre’s rooftop extension now complete and the building reaching its highest point. The rooftop extension has given a new lease of life to this building and will accommodate eight homes with stunning views across to the Manchester City Centre skyline. Ground floor residents will have the luxury of private entrances and dual aspects with windows at the front and rear. The overall scheme comprises a mix of high-specification apartments, ranging from studios to 3 beds, and is on track for completion in Spring 2022. Alongside the topping out, the internal fit out is also well underway and the build programme is making great progress. Interiors will include high quality, modern kitchens and bathrooms and residents can expect top spec finishes throughout and bright communal areas. All apartments will also be available with a furniture package, and show homes will be launching in the coming weeks. Longsight has fantastic links to the centre of Manchester, making it an ideal location for commuters, and in turn shall add further value to the local community with increased footfall for amenities and leisure facilities. Placefirst worked with Project 3 Architects to repurpose and transform the former job centre, paying close attention to sustainability and modern design. The regeneration specialists also partnered with an arboriculturist and Manchester City Council to plant new trees and install new public realm, also adding a perimeter hedge and protect high value trees in the southwest corner of the site. Energy efficiency of the apartments will be maximised by incorporating renewable sources such as solar panels, improving Psi values to limit heat loss and electric panel heaters that have a high level of control for residents. All apartments will be available for long-term let through Placefirst as part the professional landlord’s commitment to offering a viable alternative to outright home ownership. Residents will also benefit from a dedicated resident services manager as part of the developer’s dedication to high quality service and community engagement within their schemes. David Mawson, chief executive at Placefirst commented: “We are excited to have reached this construction milestone where despite the challenges of the past year, the hard work undertaken by our team and partners has seen a former derelict building brought back into use, to transform it into a thriving, sustainable neighbourhood and providing 53 new homes. “This development in the up-and-coming area of Longsight is another great demonstration of our commitment to placemaking and shall provide high-quality apartment living for local residents with excellent links to Manchester City Centre and surrounding areas. “To see the building topping out is a great step in bringing this building back to life, and we look forward to its completion next year and residents moving in.” Craig Smith, architect director for Project 3 Architects, added: “It has been fantastic to work in partnership with Placefirst on this project for the adaptive re-use of a former office building, and witness the completion of the roof structure. The rooftop extension, which has been designed to complement the existing surroundings, helps bring the building to life and will create desirable and attractive much-needed homes for local residents, whilst also offering stunning views of the city skyline.”
