Former police station to be transformed into new community in North Leeds

Family-owned property developer and landlord Pickard Properties has submitted plans to transform a former police station into a new community within North West Leeds.

The developer, which has a portfolio of properties it has developed or refurbished to retain as landlord, is proposing to regenerate the site of the former Weetwood Police station into a purpose-built residential scheme. Comprising 127 built-to-rent apartments, the scheme will create much-needed new homes in this popular area of the city.

With a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, the scheme will be “highly-energy efficient” and benefit from solar power and EV charging points, along with a “green roof” on accessible roofs, which will be covered in moss to increase biodiversity and act as a natural air purifier.

The scheme will also enhance the local environment with green communal areas and landscaping to complement the established tree line, which separates the site from Otley Road, and will be expanded with the planting of new trees.

The communal landscaped areas will also be publicly accessible with new pathways proposed that will allow local people to walk through and enjoy the green spaces. If planning permission is granted by Leeds City Council, demolition of the existing buildings is expected to begin in early 2024 with construction expected to begin later that year.

The site was acquired by Pickard Properties, advised by Fox Lloyd Jones, after West Yorkshire Police closed the station and put the building up for sale in 2020.

The company has formed an experienced development team to take its proposals forward including Leeds based planning consultants, Quod, architects Halliday Clark, based in Ilkley and Project Management & Quantity Surveyors Fox Lloyd Jones, also based in Leeds.

It will form part of Pickard Properties’ ongoing strategy to regenerate locations within the Leeds and West Yorkshire area, which it can not only develop, but retain, own, and manage for the long-term.

Miles Pickard, director of Pickard Properties, commented: “The site presents an ideal opportunity to transform previously developed land into a vibrant new community, complementing neighbouring green spaces with high quality apartments that are designed to be sympathetic to their surroundings.

“It will also make an important contribution to the growing demand for new modern homes in Leeds. We are committed to create high quality, sustainable homes that bring added economic and social value to areas across Leeds and West Yorkshire.”

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily