Placefirst kicks off Morecambe apartments

Work has started on the build-to-rent developer’s 42-home scheme on Bold Street in the town’s West End district.

Expected to complete in 2024, the £4.5m scheme will deliver a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, adding to the 107 homes that Placefirst has already built in Morecambe, known as West End One.

The third and final phase of the masterplan – once called West End Three and now known as Bold Street – will replace a series of terraces and commercial premises on brownfield land close to the town’s promenade.

The scheme also features resident parking and landscaping with integrated planting along Bold Street, as well as electric vehicle charging points, bike storage facilities and solar panels.

Local builder Tyson Construction is the main contractor and Church Lukas Architects designed the scheme.

Phil Jones, project director at Placefirst, said: “This Bold Street site is a fantastic regeneration opportunity and will bring new life into this area of Morecambe.

“It’s fantastic to see our portfolio of high-quality homes in the North West continue to grow, and we look forward to seeing the scheme develop.”

Councillor Cary Matthews, cabinet member with responsibility for housing at Lancaster City Council, added: “After many years of trying to find a solution for this site, I’m pleased to see work starting on these new apartments. Morecambe is a regeneration priority for the council and this new development will be a much-needed improvement.”

Elsewhere in the North West, Salford-based Placefirst recently completed the 53-apartment Elevate scheme in Levenshulme, Manchester, and is progressing the £25m Croal Valley regeneration project in Bolton, which is due to deliver 167 homes. It has also delivered a mix of housing at Welsh Streets in Liverpool, the sixth phase of which a planning application is awaiting approval. 

Established in 2010, Placefirst has more than 1,500 homes in its portfolio, and aims to increase this to 6,500 by 2026.