Competition to build council homes

Leeds City Council is looking to form a partnership that will shape and deliver the next phase of the authority’s ambitious plans to provide new council housing.

The new partnership approach, a first for the council, will see a single contractor design and build a total of 71 units across three sites.

Packaging up the development opportunities at the Garnets in Beeston, the Broadleas in Bramley and former Whinmoor pub site in Swarcliffe presents a more attractive proposition, allowing them to be delivered through a single procurement exercise but let as distinct contracts to the successful bidder.

As well as financial and resource savings for the council, procuring in this way will allow early contractor involvement with the eventual partner to be innovative; suggesting their own solutions and working closely with the council to develop the designs.

Initial plans for the Garnets and Broadleas have been drawn up so the successful candidate will be able to influence the final designs and details.

With no plans as yet for the Whinmoor pub site, the successful candidate will have a blank canvas to bring expertise and innovation to the designs.

Each site will conform to the Leeds Standard, embodying the best in design for sustainability, space and energy efficiency.

Councillor Richard Lewis, executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, said:

“Forming a long-term partnership will allow us to work alongside a contractor who will be able to get to heart of our ambition to create council homes that will leave a positive legacy.

“Bringing someone on board at an early stage when designs are yet to be finalised means together we can deliver even higher standards of quality design, space, flexibility and energy efficiency.

“The partnership will also offer the successful bidder certainty and security across the supply chain and allow us to create more opportunities for skills, training and apprenticeships.”

The council intends to build 1,000 new council homes over the next three years with the three sites in this phase worth almost £10 million.

The Garnets in Beeston will comprise 25 homes, the Broadleas in Bramley will have 24 homes and 22 properties are expected on the Whinmoor site. The construction value is £3.5 million, £3.4 million and £3 million respectively.

The partnership arrangement will be established through the YORBuild framework. Procurement commenced on 25 August with the successful bidder to be appointed in winter.