What Step Places does

Step Places, trading as First Step Group Ltd., is a UK-based ethical placemaker and urban regeneration specialist founded in 2008 by Harinder Dhaliwal and headquartered in Manchester with a regional office in London. The company develops residential, mixed-use, and commercial/hospitality schemes across the North West and West Midlands of England, serving individual home buyers, key workers (NHS staff, teachers, emergency services), startups and small commercial tenants, and public-sector clients including Homes England, multiple local authorities, and the NHS. Notable delivered projects include Ardwick Green (16 townhouses, 90% sold), Neighbourhood Moor Lane Bolton (44 townhouses + 114 apartments + retail, 100% sold), Neighbourhood Salford (66 homes, 100% sold), Springfield Gardens Liverpool (31 homes), Chorlton Villas (28 homes), Louisa Street (24 homes), Bank House Withington (13 apartments, 100% sold), and Waterside Gardens (8 townhouses at Wigan Pier). In February 2025, Homes England appointed Step Places alongside United Healthcare Developments as developer partner for the Appleton Cross Local Centre in Warrington — a mixed-use scheme combining housing, a medical centre serving nearly 19,000 patients, retail, and community facilities.

The company's technical approach centres on modern methods of construction, including off-site manufacturing, Air Source Heat Pumps installed since 2014, Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems, sustainable materials such as Wienerberger brick and recycled cement cladding, high-performance glazing, and Lifetime Homes Standards. Delivery is supported by AEDI Construction, a wholly-owned construction subsidiary that provides end-to-end build control. Step Places is Consumer Code for Home Builders accredited, provides 10-year structural warranties, and operates formal ESG frameworks (Carbon Reduction Strategy, Social Value Policy, Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy). The company has earned Property Week's Placemaker of the Year (2020) and Insider North West Property Awards Residential Housing Development of the Year (2016).

Step Places generates revenue through three primary streams: (1) one-time residential property sales to individual buyers and key workers at unit-based pricing; (2) one-time sale or short-lease rental of commercial retail, office, bar, and restaurant space within mixed-use developments, with flexible terms targeted at startups and small businesses; and (3) one-time public-sector contracts for social housing, healthcare, education, and community infrastructure delivered for Homes England, combined authorities, and councils. Go-to-market is sales-led via a direct sales team of dedicated consultants guiding customers from enquiry to completion, supplemented by partner agent Reside Manchester, website enquiries, and organic social/brand marketing (Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, blog, community and sports sponsorships). The company is privately held with no disclosed external funding and operates on a self-funded, founder-led basis.

Name

Step Places

Legal name

First Step Group Ltd.

Website

https://step-places.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Step Places (trading as First Step Group Ltd.) is a UK ethical placemaker founded in 2008, developing residential, mixed-use, and commercial regeneration schemes across North West England and the West Midlands for individual home buyers, key workers, public-sector partners, and small commercial tenants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Property Development

NAICS

Residential Building Construction (2361), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (23622), Nonresidential Building Construction (2362)

SIC

Operative Builders (1531), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Family Residential Construction (Apartments, Condos, Townhomes) (IMAFABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Senior Living & Assisted Living Facility Construction (IMAFACAJ)

Keywords

• Residential property development
• Urban regeneration
• Mixed-use developments
• Sustainable construction
• Public sector housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Residential Property Sales: Sale of residential properties including townhouses, apartments, and family homes to end buyers. Revenue is generated through one-time property sales at various price points depending on property type and location.
2. Commercial and Retail Space: Rental and sale of commercial retail units, offices, bars, restaurants, and artisan retail spaces within mixed-use developments. Offers short leases and flexible terms for startups and small businesses.
3. Public Sector Contracts: Delivery of contracts for public sector clients including social housing, healthcare facilities, and community infrastructure

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Step Places is a property development and regeneration company that designs, builds, and sells residential homes, commercial retail spaces, and mixed-use developments across the North and Midlands of England. The company delivers new-build townhouses, apartments, and family homes primarily to individual buyers and key workers, while also developing public sector projects including social housing, healthcare facilities, and community infrastructure. Project delivery is supported by an in-house construction arm (AEDI Construction) and a focus on sustainable modern methods of construction, energy-efficient technologies, and community-focused placemaking.

Product overview

Step Places is an ethical placemaker and regeneration specialist operating under First-Step Group Ltd., with over 10 years of industry experience. The company offers a diverse portfolio of residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments across the North and Midlands of England. The core product portfolio includes: residential developments (Ardwick Green, Springfield Gardens, Louisa Street, Chorlton Villas, Waterside Gardens, Life Buildings, Bank House, Neighbourhood Moor Lane Bolton, Neighbourhood Salford); mixed-use developments (Cotton House Ancoats, Appleton Cross); commercial/hospitality spaces (The Edinburgh Castle, Almost Famous, Bolton Retail Units, Spaces); and construction services through AEDI Construction. The company is committed to sustainability, innovation, and community-focused development with a focus on creating places people love through placemaking with purpose.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ardwick Green Award-winning development of sixteen three-bedroom back-to-back urban townhouses in Manchester city centre overlooking Ardwick Green Park, featuring sustainable technologies including air source heat pumps, MVHR systems, and photovoltaic panels. Targeted at individual home buyers and families. Status: 90% sold.
• Springfield Gardens Transformation of Liverpool's former Alder Hey Hospital site into 31 three and four bedroom homes, including townhouses, apartments, and specially designed accommodation for young individuals with autism. Showhome now open.
• Appleton Cross Planned community-focused local centre in Warrington comprising housing, medical centre, retail, community facilities, and green spaces. Developed in partnership with Homes England and United Healthcare Developments. Status: early planning stage.
• Life Buildings Apartments designed for first-time buyers and key workers in Hulme, Manchester, offering flexible, custom-designed city living in a convenient location near Manchester city centre.
• Cotton House Ancoats Mixed-use development at Cotton Square in Ancoats consisting of 23 apartments and townhouses, retail units, and traditionally restored Victorian public house (The Edinburgh Castle). Cotton Square earned Step Places Property Week's Placemaker of the Year award at the Property Awards 2020.
• Neighbourhood Moor Lane, Bolton Mixed-use development of 44 luxury three-bedroom townhouses, 114 apartments, and artisan retail space in Bolton Town Centre, featuring air source heat pumps, gated parking, electric vehicle charging points, and roof terraces. Includes the Bolton Retail Units component.
• Bolton Retail Units Premium collection of 10 artisan retail units within Neighbourhood Moor Lane development in Bolton town centre, with units ranging from 500 to 1,000 sq ft and designed for startups and small businesses.
• Spaces (Commercial) Commercial spaces including retail offices, events space, bars, restaurants, and artisan retail, designed for small businesses and startups with short leases and flexible terms. Units feature street frontage and full-height glazed frontage.
• AEDI Construction Step Places' wholly-owned construction arm providing comprehensive construction services across residential, mixed-use, and regeneration projects, bringing developments to life with craftsmanship, safety, and sustainability standards.
• ESG Services Environmental, Social, and Governance services including Carbon Reduction Strategy and Social Value Policy, encompassing sustainable building methods, community partnerships, and governance frameworks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy savings for homeowners through sustainable features
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Homes EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Homes England is the government's housing agency and the existing land owner of Appleton Cross Local Centre. Following a procurement exercise in February 2025, Homes England appointed First Step Group (trading as Step Places) alongside United Healthcare Developments as developer partner to deliver the Local Centre. Homes England retains ownership of the site and is involved throughout planning and delivery.
• United Healthcare DevelopmentscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025United Healthcare Developments (UHD) is a developer partner specializing in the delivery of outstanding and innovative medical centres. Appointed alongside Step Places by Homes England in February 2025 to deliver the Appleton Cross Local Centre, with UHD leading on the medical centre component.
• Greater Manchester Combined AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGMCA is a strategic partner for development projects across Greater Manchester region, supporting regional regeneration initiatives.
• Bolton CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBolton Council partners with Step Places on the Neighbourhood Moor Lane development and other regeneration projects in Bolton town centre.
• Liverpool City Region Combined AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for the Springfield Gardens development near Alder Hey Hospital, transforming the former hospital site into new housing.
• Salford City CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Neighbourhood Salford development delivering 66 contemporary homes in the heart of Salford.
• NHS Alder Hey Children's Foundation TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS trust whose former Alder Hey Hospital site is being transformed into Springfield Gardens residential development by Step Places.
• Mustard TreeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partner for community outreach. Step Places team volunteers time and resources to support individuals facing poverty and homelessness, building stronger communities.
• Places for PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing association partner for affordable housing and social housing projects.
• Greater Manchester Property Framework (GMPF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty framework partner for development opportunities in Greater Manchester region.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/step_places
• Facebookfacebook.com/yourstepplaces
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/step-places
• Instagraminstagram.com/stepplaces

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Step Places