Partner Article

Keepmoat appointed for final phase of Allerton Bywater development

A major regeneration scheme in Yorkshire is one step closer to being completed after Keepmoat was announced as the preferred developer for the final three phases of the scheme.

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has appointed Keepmoat as the preferred developer at its Allerton Bywater Millennium Community Development at Park Lane in Allerton Bywater.

The £30 million scheme will see the development of 162 two, three and four bedroom homes for sale and 29 two bedroom apartments and three and four bedroom homes for affordable rent. In addition to the new homes, Keepmoat will also develop 30,000 sq. ft. of commercial development, which will be located on Park Lane.

All properties will be developed to the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes level 3, making them energy efficient, and also meet both the Building for Life and Lifetime Homes standards.

The area has seen significant redevelopment since the closure of Allerton Bywater’s coalmine in 1992. The Allerton Bywater Millennium Community Development was established in 2006 and since then, the HCA working in partnership with selected developers, has delivered a comprehensive regeneration scheme which will eventually see the development of 520 new homes and improved local facilities and services, including a new class room for the local primary school, refurbishment of the Miners Welfare Hall and provision of a Multi-Use Games Area and a playground for younger children.

The development of the last three phases is the final piece of the jigsaw for this major scheme, which has helped to transform a brownfield site and sustain the local community.

Keepmoat was selected as the preferred developer after creating a vision for regeneration and a development proposal that builds on the strengths of earlier phases. In addition to the development of new homes, Keepmoat is committed to creating local employment opportunities with the appointment of six local apprentices throughout the duration of the project. Keepmoat also intends to hold a ‘meet the buyer’ event and create work experience placement opportunities for local people.

Mark Knight, Managing Director for Keepmoat Homes Yorkshire said, “We are delighted to have been appointed as the preferred developer for the final phase of the Allerton Bywater Millennium Community Development and to have the opportunity to work alongside the HCA and Leeds City Council.

“This is a major regeneration scheme for the area and with over 70 years of experience in transforming communities into vibrant and desirable places to live, we are in a unique position to help complete the development of this scheme.

“Keepmoat has a proven track record of successful innovative community regeneration and we are looking forward to developing much needed, high quality homes for sale and affordable rent in Allerton Bywater.”

Naomi Beckett, Area Manager for the HCA, said: “This is the culmination of many years of hard work by the HCA, our partners and predecessors, these new homes, which Keepmoat will build around homezones will complete the scheme and ensure that the homes at Allerton Bywater have all been built to the original design code and meet same very high standards.”

Plans will be submitted to the council in October and if successful, work is expected to start on site in May 2014. The scheme will take five years to complete.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Craig Downs .