Consultation to be approved for new housing plans at Leeds’ north east area

Leeds senior council members are set to approve a new consultation on housing plans for the outer north east area of the city.

At the meeting of the executive board on Wednesday 21st September, councillors will be asked to proceed with presenting plans for public consideration on alternate sites for housing developments as part of the citywide Site Allocations Plan (SAP).

As part of the plan’s structure, the Leeds district is split into 11 geographical areas known as Housing Market Characteristic Areas (HMCAs) with each area being allocated a figure for housing which together makes up the net 66,000 new homes identified in the Core Strategy as being needed in Leeds by 2028.

The plan for the outer north east area has needed to be revised following the withdrawal of Headley Hall in Bramham from consideration, which had a capacity for up to 3,000 new homes - accounting for 60% of the total new housing provision for the area.

Leeds City Council has now put forward alternative proposals for consideration to address the shortfall in the housing allocations for that area, which if approved will go out to public consultation at the end of this month and will run until early November.

The last public consultation carried out on the Site Allocations Plan was conducted from September to November 2015, resulting in responses from approximately 10,000 people and more than 40,000 comments on the plan.

This feedback was then considered by the council’s development plan panel earlier this year, helping to shape the final plan which will need to be endorsed by full council prior to being submitted to the government.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, said: “The withdrawal of Headley Hall from our Site Allocations proposals was disappointing but now we are putting forward alternative proposals to make up the shortfall in the outer north east area.

“I would encourage everyone with an interest in the future development of this part of the city to take part in the consultation, the details of which will be released shortly.

“The Site Allocations Plan has been developed and considered at length over many months and we are now almost at the final stage of being able to present it to the government which together with the Core Strategy would give Leeds a solid basis for all future planning, housing and development in the city.”