Landmark multi-million pound regeneration scheme for Leeds signed

Leeds City Council has agreed a landmark deal to free up brownfield land for around 1,000 news homes, regenerating three east Leeds neighbourhoods.

The deal with housing and regeneration specialists Keepmoat and Strata will transform communities in Seacroft, Halton Moor and Osmondthorpe with an investment of £142million.

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

As a major landowner in the city, the council has committed to ensuring development takes place on brownfield land first. Currently, around 70 per cent of all new homes in Leeds are being delivered on brownfield sites.

This approach is helping secure high quality housing and providing choice to meet local needs and regenerate neighbourhoods.

Leeds City Council’s executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Councillor Richard Lewis, 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, said:

“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, said:

“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 66,000 new dwellings in the city by 2028.

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

Considerable job opportunities for local people will be available throughout the eight year scheme, including apprenticeships and training placements to address skills shortages.

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