Placefirst, a UK build-to-rent (BTR) and single-family provider, has been selected by Bury Council as the preferred partner to transform the 30,000ft² Humphrey House office site into 74 new homes.

The development is a key part of Bury's efforts to revitalise the town centre and aims to bolster the council's housing strategy by providing a variety of quality and secure rental homes.

Placefirst's selection was influenced by its portfolio in BTR conversions such as the Elevate Manchester project, which saw a former job centre repurposed into a rental community, with 85% occupancy before completion.

The BTR property developer also has an ongoing project in Bolton, where a £35m ($43.4m) residential neighbourhood is under construction. The development, comprising 167 homes on a 1.1ha brownfield site, is part of Bolton Council's wider £1bn master plan to revitalise the town centre.

Humphrey House represents one of the numerous brownfield sites Bury Council is developing to meet its housing delivery goals.

Bury Council housing cabinet member and councillor Clare Cummins said: “Humphrey House is a key town centre site, which when redeveloped will offer high-quality aspirational housing close to public transport links.

“The redevelopment will add to and complement dynamic regeneration plans at the adjacent market and wider reimagining of the Millgate shopping centre. Together, this will provide additional footfall to nearby traders, galvanise Bury’s day and nighttime economy and provide much-needed housing in the town centre.”

Established in 2010, Placefirst has a portfolio of more than 1,500 homes across the UK.

The company has recently secured a £200m development finance facility from ICG Real Estate to fund a mix of direct development, joint venture developments, and forward fund transactions, with the first drawdown utilised to fund a portfolio of six assets throughout the UK.