Once complete, the development will comprise 67 houses and 98 apartments ranging in size from 2-3 bedrooms and 1-2 bedrooms respectively. The new provision of quality homes brings the total number of properties delivered by Placefirst in the North East to 509, following the developer’s existing sites in Hartlepool, Esh Winning, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Hetton-le-Hole.

The homes are designed to achieve EPC ‘A’ ratings, meaning residents benefit from lower energy bills and more efficient temperature control, reflecting both Placefirst and Sunderland City Council’s ambitions to create a sustainable community. Caddick has been appointed as the main contractor on the scheme, which will feature a combination of private and communal gardens to provide residents with ample outdoor space.

The name and design of the site are inspired by the landscape of the nearby Galley’s Gill. The apartment blocks will be arranged along the clifftop edge which overlooks Galley’s Gill, creating a distinctive silhouette. A cliff top footpath overlooking Riverside Park, with views of the River Wear and the coast, will also provide a scenic walkway to the neighbourhood.
 

Galley’s View is the second residential neighbourhood in the Sunderland city centre regeneration project, named ‘Riverside Sunderland’, which aims to build 1,000 new homes and 1 million sq ft of office space in the former industrial heart of the city. The Galley’s View plans were developed in collaboration with local architects ID Partnerships and development consultants IC Planning, sustainable engineering consultants Cundall, landscape architects LUC and mechanical and electrical engineering consultants TACE.

The scheme has been made possible through close collaboration between Placefirst and Sunderland City Council. With grant funding being provided by the North East Combined Authority (NECA) and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

David Mawson, CEO at Placefirst, said: “Breaking ground at Galley’s View marks a significant milestone for both Placefirst and the wider Riverside Sunderland masterplan. The neighbourhood will play a key role in raising the standard of living in Sunderland, through high quality, sustainable rental housing and appealing green spaces in a prominent city centre location.

“This scheme is an example of what can be achieved when ambitious placemaking is backed by strong partnerships. By working closely with Sunderland City Council and Homes England, Placefirst is creating a new neighbourhood which meets the needs of the local community and will support the wider growth and regeneration of Sunderland City Centre. We look forward to working closely with these partners and our project team to bring this neighbourhood to life, and to continue to meet the fast-evolving needs of Sunderland’s city centre and the wider North East area.”

Councillor Kevin Johnston, cabinet member for business, housing and regeneration at Sunderland City Council, said: “The start on site at Galley’s View is yet another major milestone for our city centre’s regeneration. Drawing more residents to the heart of the city is crucial to help support our retailers and leisure venues and contribute to the overall regeneration and transformation of Sunderland city centre.

“Galley’s View will not only provide high-quality homes for our residents but will also create a neighbourhood that supports the long-term future of Sunderland as a place where people want to live, work and invest.”

Steve Ford, Regional Managing Director at Caddick Construction North East & Yorkshire, said: “Breaking ground at Galley’s View marks an important step in our growth across the North East, and our partnership with Placefirst reflects the residential expertise we bring to projects of this scale. We’re proud to be starting work on a scheme that will contribute to Sunderland’s wider regeneration, and we look forward to delivering high-quality homes that will help shape a thriving and sustainable community for local people.”

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The appointment will see Caddick build a new development of 165 homes, comprising a mix of townhouses and apartments. The development will be the second new neighbourhood under Sunderland City Council’s Riverside Sunderland Masterplan to deliver 1,000 new homes in the city centre.

Delivered from Caddick’s Durham offices at Belmont Business Park, Farringdon Row adds to the contractor’s growing North East portfolio as it increases its focus on a regional project pipeline.

Farringdon Row adds to Caddick’s work on behalf of Placefirst following the completion of BTR schemes in the North West and Yorkshire. These include Deansgate Gardens in Bolton and Bolt Works in Halifax.

Steve Ford, Regional Managing Director, Caddick Construction North East & Yorkshire, commented: “We’re very proud to be continuing our strong partnership with Placefirst on this exciting new build-to-rent scheme in Sunderland. Following the successful delivery of Bolt Works and Deansgate Gardens, our appointment to Farringdon Row reflects the quality, trust and shared vision we’ve built together. We are privileged to play a role in the regeneration of Sunderland, creating high-quality homes and thriving communities for local people.”

Phil Jones, Development Director at Placefirst said: “Farringdon Row is an exciting addition to our growing portfolio and reflects our commitment to creating quality homes designed for long-term living in Sunderland. By working closely with Caddick Construction, we’re proud to be supporting Sunderland City Council’s ambitious Riverside regeneration plans and bringing new energy to the heart of the city’s waterfront.
 

“Our partnership with Caddick has gone from strength to strength through several successful projects. Now, Farringdon Row will play a key role in continuing to improve the standard of city centre living in Sunderland, through high quality, sustainable homes and green spaces.”

Cllr Kevin Johnston, Cabinet Member for Housing, Business and Regeneration at Sunderland City Council, said: “Farringdon Row is key to ensuring we achieve our goal of increasing the number of people living in Sunderland city centre by over 2,500 people over the course of the next decade, so it’s fantastic news that a contractor has been appointed to deliver the scheme.

“Both Caddick Construction and Placefirst have proven track records of building and delivering high-quality, built-to-rent urban housing developments, so we are excited to be partnering with them to transform this city centre site into a stunning new community that will have stunning views across the river and riverside park.

“It will help fill the gap for much-needed rental housing while also providing a major boost to the high street, bringing footfall from residents, and encouraging more businesses to relocate here. It is yet another huge milestone for Riverside Sunderland, a place that is now widely recognised as being among the UK’s most ambitious and exciting city centre regeneration projects.”

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The deal reinforces their commitment to building 500 sustainable, high-quality rental homes across the UK by 2028.The latest scheme, called Chingford Meadows includes 70 spacious three-bedroom homes and 34 generous four-bedroom homes, all of which will be managed and maintained by Placefirst. By exclusively comprising houses, the planned development reflects growing demand for larger homes in the private rental sector, as well as Placefirst’s belief in giving renters the same space and choice as buyers.
 

This forward-funded scheme represents Placefirst’s first investment in Nottingham and will bring the total number of homes delivered through its JV with Strata to 232. With the partnership’s mission to build at pace, the first homes will be delivered in July 2026, with site completion due in July 2028.
 

The scheme will also bring 26 much-needed affordable homes to the area, which are being acquired by Auxesia Homes, a Registered Provider (RP) of affordable housing. This pioneering deal marks a new way of doing business for all partners involved – Placefirst, Auxesia Homes, and Strata, working together to deliver both private rental and affordable housing at scale. The structure of this agreement is the first of its kind for Auxesia and Placefirst, where this joined-up approach in purchasing both S106 and build to rent units allows developers to unlock entire sites in a single transaction, even where traditional viability might otherwise fall short. It provides developers with a profitable, de-risked exit strategy while enabling the delivery of high-quality, energy-efficient homes across tenures. This model is set to be replicated across future sites, offering new opportunities for landowners, developers, and investors seeking impactful, scalable housing delivery.
 

The homes at Chingford Meadows will be built to a best-in-class rental specification, developed jointly by Strata and Placefirst. Each property will include private gardens, electric vehicle charging points, and photovoltaic (PV) panels, offering greater privacy and comfort, lower energy costs, and enabling a more sustainable lifestyle within a professionally managed rental community.
 

The development will be located just a 15-minute drive from the city centre in a well-connected area of Nottingham. Future residents will benefit from being walking distance from a number of schools, but still within close proximity to open green space and wellness facilities, including Bilborough Park and Harvey Hadden Sports Village.

Henry Marshall, Investment Director at Placefirst said: “Chingford Meadows is a strong testament to the success that sustained partnership can bring. Together with Strata, we are bringing to the East Midlands’ largest city new, high-quality single-family rental homes for the local community, as part of our first investment in Nottingham.

Strengthening our partnership with Strata allows us to accelerate delivery and build at greater scale. The urgency of this shouldn’t be underestimated as the growing shortfall of such homes in the private rental market is estimated to be in the millions. This second scheme is a clear demonstration of what our joint venture and shared commitment can achieve, and it brings us closer to our ambition of delivering 500 homes through this partnership.

This new scheme also reflects our mission to deliver the best for the UK’s community of renters, offering them quality single-family homes that provide them with the space and stability they need to settle and put down roots in places where they want to live. As regeneration and placemaking specialists, we know that it is only by giving renters this homeowner quality experience that we can foster embedded, long-term communities.

We are also delighted that the development will bring 26 new affordable rental homes to the area offering local people safe, energy-efficient places to live.”

Gemma Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Strata said: "This project is a fantastic example of the power of long-term collaboration. Working closely with Nottingham City Council, Placefirst and Auxesia, we’ve been able to unlock a site that will now deliver genuine social and economic value for the city.

It’s especially exciting to be delivering our first Midlands-based Single Family Housing site with Placefirst — a partner that shares our values when it comes to quality, placemaking and long-term stewardship. This marks a major step forward in our ambitions to grow our footprint in the Midlands through meaningful partnerships and mixed-tenure communities.”
 

Claire Donnelly, Interim Chief Executive Officer at Auxesia Homes, commented: “This deal represents a step change in how we approach site delivery. By bringing together three like-minded organisations, we’ve created a model that not only works commercially but also delivers meaningful social value. It shows what can be achieved when ambition, innovation, and shared purpose come together – and we’re excited to build on this success across future developments.”

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• Award-winning build-to-rent specialist Placefirst names new Morecambe scheme Bay Mill
• Project will deliver 42 high-quality, sustainable new homes for private rent this summer
• New development adds to Placefirst's existing 107 homes near coastal town's promenade

Award-winning build-to-rent developer Placefirst has today announced the official name for its £4.5m scheme in Morecambe.

The newly named Bay Mill, on Bold Street, will deliver 42 high-quality rental homes with a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Set to complete in June 2024, the first residents are expected to start moving into their new homes ready for summer.

The development will provide 42 much-needed new rental homes to the seaside town, which is already home to Placefirst’s 107-home West End neighbourhood.

Bay Mill, located just a stone’s throw away from the famous seafront, takes its name from the stunning coastal views of Morecambe Bay and draws on the site’s history as the location of one of Lancashire’s famous mills.

The development has been designed to deliver beautifully designed, energy efficient homes, and will feature residents parking, bike storage, electric vehicle charging points and solar panels, while also delivering landscaping and planting along Bold Street.

Rental prices for the apartments at Bay Mill start from £699 per calendar month, and those keen on securing one can register their interest now, via Placefirst’s website.

David Mawson, CEO of Placefirst, said: “Just as we raised the bar with our West End scheme in 2016, so too will we set a high standard for renting in Morecambe with the completion of Bay Mill.

“We are experts in designing and delivering quality homes for rent, that complement the needs of the areas in which we operate. Our objective is always to establish sustainable new communities that enhance people's wellbeing and instil a sense of pride in their local area.

“We are working at pace to finalise Bay Mill and look forward to welcoming the first new residents this summer.”

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● Award-winning build-to-rent specialist Placefirst releases new images of Deansgate Gardens

● Project will deliver 167 high-quality, sustainable new homes for long-term private rental

● Development forms part of Bolton Council’s £1bn masterplan to transform the town centre

● The scheme demonstrates Placefirst’s continued commitment to the North West
 

Newly released images have revealed how a multi-million-pound development will “completely transform” Bolton town centre.

The computer-generated images have been unveiled by award-winning build-to-rent (BTR) developer Placefirst and depict its new £35m scheme, which has today been officially named as Deansgate Gardens.

The development, located opposite the former Beales department store and a stone’s throw from Bolton’s Town Hall, will deliver 167 new high-quality, sustainable homes for long-term private rent, as well as extensive public realm and commercial space.

The name Deansgate Gardens takes inspiration from the area’s vibrant heritage and reputation as a major commercial, retail and social hub during the 19^th century. Placefirst also consulted with not only Bolton Council, but also members of the public to receive input into the name, during the summer’s hugely successful Bolton Food and Drink Festival.

David Mawson, CEO at Placefirst, commented: “These stunning new images of Deansgate Gardens offer a new look into our first contribution towards a bright and brilliant future for Bolton town centre.

“We are immensely proud to be delivering such a transformative scheme, one which will deliver a community of much-needed new quality rental homes right in the heart of Bolton town centre.

“As placemaking specialists, our goal is always to create sustainable new neighbourhoods that people benefit from and take pride in – and we will achieve just that with Deansgate Gardens.”

The Deputy Leader of Bolton City Council, Cllr Akhtar Zaman, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Placefirst on this transformative scheme. Attracting more people to live in the town centre is a key part of our regeneration strategy, and building quality long-term rental properties like Deansgate Gardens will help us achieve this goal.

“The new name reflects the important heritage of this particular site, which will once again become a bustling and vibrant neighbourhood in the town centre.

“The latest images show how impressive the finished development will be, complementing the many other projects which are transforming Bolton into and even better place to live, work and visit.”

Placefirst worked with award-winning architect Levitt Bernstein and landscape architect CW Studio to design the 1.1-hectare scheme.

Construction began in March this year at the site, which was previously home to a car park and several disused buildings.

Building works are now well underway to transform the brownfield site into a vibrant new neighbourhood with rooftop terraces, resident gardens and courtyards.

Designed with the local community in mind, the neighbourhood will also include ground-floor commercial spaces, a spacious central square, communal green areas and pedestrian-led spaces.

Deansgate Gardens is projected for completion in summer 2025, with Placefirst remaining on-site to oversee the management and maintenance of the neighbourhood with professional in-house teams.
 

The scheme forms a central component to Bolton Council's £1bn masterplan to transform the town centre by blending high-quality buildings and carefully designed public spaces.

The post New Images and Official Name Unveiled for Multi-Million Pound Neighbourhood in Bolton Town Centre appeared first on Placefirst Latest News.

● Placefirst, the Award-winning build-to-rent specialist has invested more than £134m into neighbourhoods

● The Good Economy praises Placefirst for refurbishing homes that other developers deemed unviable

● Its report reveals that £5.2m is spent annually by Placefirst residents in local economies
 

An independent report has praised award-winning build-to-rent specialist Placefirst for the far-reaching social impact of its schemes and commitment to ESG.

According to independent social impact advisory firm The Good Economy, the build-to-rent regeneration specialist has invested more than £134 million in total into the development, regeneration, refurbishment and upkeep of its neighbourhoods since launching in 2010.

In addition, The Good Economy estimated that residents at Placefirst’s homes across the UK spent an estimated £5.2 million last year in their neighbourhoods across multiple local authority areas, boosting local economies.

Some 42% of residents were found to have relocated from outside the local authority, “bringing new skills and income to the area”, helping to level up places in need of investment. A fifth were working for the NHS and a further third worked in hospitality, retail, technology, and education.

The investment in Welsh Streets – Placefirst’s 283-home flagship Liverpool scheme – created a “ripple effect”, according to The Good Economy, which subsequently saw a nearby housing association invest more than £17 million in the local area.

It added that Placefirst inspired additional “small investments, such as local landlords and businesses refurbishing their properties and an increase in small businesses”.

Placefirst’s retrofitting of existing housing stock where possible was also praised by the report, as refurbishment emits 36% less carbon than demolishing and constructing new assets. Five out of its 11 neighbourhoods (58%) are comprised of mostly refurbished homes. ^[1]

One local authority told The Good Economy that it is likely several derelict properties in its area would have been demolished had Placefirst not rescued and refurbished them.

Placefirst’s portfolio also scored highly on energy efficiency, with 96% of its homes receiving an EPC rating of C or higher and a third (32%) receiving either B or A ratings. It added that 92% of homes which already had EPC ratings but were later refurbished by Placefirst saw those ratings increase.

Sarah Forster, CEO and co-Founder of The Good Economy, said: “Our findings show that since its inception in 2010, Placefirst has made a real difference to the communities where it operates. In particular, when it invests in derelict locations in need of regeneration, the benefits to the wider area are significant.”

The report stated: “Properties were mostly long-term vacant prior to acquisition by Placefirst and in a state of serious disrepair. They were often not attractive to or deliverable by other developers due to their complexity, which resulted in an association with a higher level of risk and therefore lack of financial viability.”

David Mawson, CEO at Placefirst, commented: “It’s fantastic to have an independent report spotlight the genuine impact our developments are having on communities up and down the country.

“Our aim is to create thriving communities across the UK through high-quality sustainable housing –and this research confirms we’re doing just that.

“The UK is home to the oldest housing stock in Europe, so it is little wonder, then, that so many renters are today living in poor-quality housing.
 

“That’s why we are so proud of everything we do at Placefirst – not only are we delivering thousands of desperately-needed new homes, we are also breathing new life and prosperity into communities.
 

“Our schemes have also delivered significant benefits to the local authority partners that we have worked with successfully over many years, providing council tax income and delivering high-quality homes for long-term rental.”

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The leading UK build-to-rent provider – as the council’s preferred developer – will now take possession of the city centre brownfield site at Lower Horseley Fields, adjacent to Union Mill Street.

Placefirst has already secured full planning permission for its transformative scheme of 366 new homes and commercial space in the heart of Wolverhampton’s historic Canalside Quarter.

It will now finalise delivery plans while the five-acre brownfield site close to the new £150million transport Interchange continues to be remediated by Dunton Environmental to make it ready for construction to start next year.

The development will deliver a new canalside community as part of a wider regeneration project in the area, working alongside the City of Wolverhampton Council, Canal and River Trust and West Midlands Combined Authority. It will provide a mix of townhouses, new build apartments and commercial space.

Sensitive restoration of canalside heritage assets and major environmental improvements will be implemented in the scheme, which is designed by award winning architecture practice jmarchitects, with WSP as planning and heritage consultants.

Included in the regeneration and Placefirst’s commitment to placemaking, a new promenade, public open spaces, landscaping and pedestrian access to the canal towpath will also be created, taking full advantage of the heritage waterways.

The development is part of Placefirst’s expansion into the West Midlands joining its portfolio of national regeneration projects, and once complete, will transform this former industrial area into a vibrant canalside community with a mix of housing options.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, said: “We have ambitious plans to regenerate Wolverhampton’s Canalside area and I am delighted we are now in a position where this transformational scheme can get on the ground.

“Placefirst will deliver a nationally significant development that not only brings back into use a large parcel of brownfield land but also enables the city to take advantage of our fantastic waterways, and the heritage that comes with it, to provide a sustainable community where people want to live and work, now and in the future.

“The scheme will also generate local jobs and boost our economic recovery.

“Urban living forms a critical part of how we are reimagining our city centre and will help us meet the increasing demand for housing.

“Canalside is a large and exciting opportunity, and the Council is working hard with its partners to provide the determined and skilful leadership needed to realise opportunities like this.”

David Mawson, Chief Executive Officer at Placefirst, said: “This land deal marks a defining moment in the ongoing transformation of Wolverhampton’s historic Canalside Quarter.

“As our very first development in the Midlands, we are enormously proud to be delivering hundreds of sustainable, high-quality new rental homes for this first phase of Canalside.

“We take our role as regeneration specialists extremely seriously and are passionate about breathing new life into areas in need of investment helping to support the creation of new jobs, prosperity and much-needed new housing.

“With this transformative new development, our goal is to deliver a new neighbourhood that both future residents and the wider Wolverhampton community can enjoy and take pride in.”

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