PlaceFirst completes Morecambe guesthouses makeover

PlaceFirst has completed its £5.7m market rent housing project at Morecambe’s historic West End, called West End One, containing 47 units in a mix of townhouse and apartment styles.

Manchester-based PlaceFirst designs, builds and manages homes for rent across the North, “offering customers improved choice in private renting through spacious, energy efficient homes and a direct, professional landlord service.”

The latest development has transformed former guesthouses into a range of family homes around a landscaped courtyard. PlaceFirst remodeled 29 large empty properties to create a bespoke collection of 47 new homes, including townhouses and apartments, aimed at the growing number of households in the private rented sector.

PlaceFirst said West End One is more than 60% let with a strong pipeline of interest the remaining properties. A show home has recently been completed and is now open for viewings by appointment.

Following the success of West End One, PlaceFirst is now drawing up plans for West End Two on an adjacent site between Chatsworth Road and Balmoral Road. The development will tackle 22 long-term empty properties and will offer a choice of townhouses and apartments similar to West End One. Proposals for the refurbishment project are currently being developed and PlaceFirst aim to be on site in early 2017.

The company is also in detailed discussions with Lancaster City Council over a cleared site off Bold Street in the West End of Morecambe. Subject to planning, PlaceFirst aims to deliver a collection of new-build family houses with private gardens and off-street parking. The project will deliver some of PlaceFirst’s new-build housing and the company aim to use pre-fabrication and modern methods of construction to ensure efficient delivery and high quality standards for their customers.

David Smith-Milne, managing director of PlaceFirst, said: “Since we completed the first homes in March earlier this year, we have had tremendous interest in West End One. The properties offer a new quality standard in private rent, delivering aspirational, energy efficient homes backed up by a dedicated landlord service with transparent tenures and low fees.

“There are more households than ever relying on the private rented sector for their accommodation needs and schemes like West End One are addressing this head on through a considered approach that puts the customer at the heart of everything we do.

“We are really pleased with the interest in West End One and expect the remaining homes to be fully let within the next few weeks. The West End is a vibrant, historic neighbourhood close to the beach and town centre and, with the imminent completion of the new Heysham-M6 road link, Morecambe will benefit from improved regional connectivity which can only have a positive impact on the future of the town.”

Cllr Janice Hanson, Cabinet member with responsibility for planning and regeneration at Lancaster City Council, said: “The housing is exceptionally high quality and brings up to modern standards these wonderful Victorian properties that for so many years had been in much need of regeneration. The community will benefit immeasurably from this new development, which will directly contribute to making the West End an attractive place to live and work.”

Ongoing projects by PlaceFirst include 120 homes in Woodnook, Accrington, more than 250 homes at the Welsh Streets in Liverpool, and 77 homes on the edge of Hartlepool town centre.