£142m regeneration scheme to transform three Leeds neighbourhoods

A multi-million pound deal has been struck to free up brownfield land for around 1,000 news homes, which will lead to the regeneration of three east Leeds neighbourhoods.

Leeds City Council agreed a deal with housing and regeneration specialists Keepmoat and Strata to transform communities in Seacroft, Halton Moor and Osmondthorpe with an investment of £142m.

As well as providing new homes across 13 sites, jobs and training opportunities will be made available.

Currently, around 70% of all new homes in Leeds are being delivered on brownfield sites.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, said: “With a clear focus on redeveloping brownfield land first we can lead the way in ensuring important new housing in Leeds is delivered.

“Using council land in a planned and co-ordinated way like this allows us to work with partners such as Keepmoat, Strata and others so that there is a supply of suitable, affordable, quality homes that meets Leeds’ need now and in the future.”

Ian Hoad, operations director for Keepmoat in Yorkshire, commented: “We are actively expanding our presence in West Yorkshire, where we see a real appetite for new homes. With 95% of our developments built on brownfield land we are perfectly placed to deliver this scheme and we’re thrilled to have been selected as chosen developer alongside Strata.

“Working in partnership with Strata will allow us to accelerate the delivery of these new homes, with the target of achieving 150 properties per annum in line with the council’s clear requirements to deliver at scale, pace and quality.

“We aren’t just taking one development in one part of the region. We are completely overhauling three neighbourhoods and potentially putting nearly 1,000 families in the region on the property ladder.”

Andrew Weaver, chief executive of Strata, added: “We very much look forward to providing a valued contribution to this exciting venture creating sustainable, diverse, attractive neighbourhoods and a legacy for Leeds that we can all be proud of.”

The release of the council owned sites reflects the council’s approach to sustainable development set out in the Core Strategy, which targets the delivery 70,000 new dwellings in the city by 2028.

The scheme will provide homes and purchasing initiatives such as Help to Buy, offering aspiring home owners an opportunity of getting on the housing ladder.

Planning applications are expected later in 2016 with work starting on site in 2017.

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