Public urged to have their say over major housing and transport plans for east Leeds

A public consultation is being launched next week on plans that will help provide 5,000 homes in east Leeds.

Leeds City Council is holding a number of community consultation events for people to view and comment on the East Leeds Extension (ELE), which is a large area of undeveloped land around the edge of Swarcliffe, Whinmoor and Crossgates identified for housing.

The public consultation, which will close on the 29 January, includes local area drop-in sessions and an on-line questionnaire.

At around 250 hectares, the ELE is the largest single site allocated for housing in the Leeds city region, bringing new homes, transport improvements, community facilities and economic investment.

The development includes a 7.5km dual carriageway road – the East Leeds Orbital Road (ELOR) - which will be built to support the housing and improve traffic movement in and around east Leeds. A number of other transport improvements are also planned in the area to make it easier for pedestrians, cyclists and local traffic.

Councillor Richard Lewis, executive member for city development, said:

“The East Leeds Extension will provide much needed homes to support the city’s growing population. It will bring investment and jobs to east Leeds and boost the economic growth of the city as a whole.

“We are asking local people and interested parties to come along to the information events to comment on the plans, identify the main issues and help influence the planning framework for this development.

“It is extremely important people have their say on a scheme which will change the future of east Leeds and play an important role in the city’s continued economic growth and regeneration.”

The results of the public consultation will inform the planning framework for the East Leeds Extension development ensuring it takes account of the needs of local businesses and existing communities.

The public drop-in events will be held throughout November and December at the following dates and venues:

• Mon 23 and Tues 24 November: Swarcliffe Community Centre 3.00-8.00pm

• Thurs 26 November: Scholes Village Hall 2.00-6.30pm

• Mon 30 November: Fieldhead Carr Community Centre 3.00-8.00pm

• Wed 2 December: Crossgates Library 3.00-6.45pm

• Thurs 3 December: Wellington Hill Residents Association 2.30-6.45pm

• Mon 7 December: Crossgates Methodist Church Hall 2.30-7.00pm

People can also visit the Leeds City Council website at www.leeds.gov.uk/ele for more information on the East Leeds Extension and to take part in the on-line consultation questionnaire.

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Notes to Editors:

• The consultation for the East Leeds Extension and East Leeds Orbital Road follows the city-wide public consultation the city’s 16-year site allocations development plan.

The main elements of the East Leeds Extension include:

• Northern Quadrant: A consortium of developers and landowners submitted an outline planning application in July 2012 for the construction of 2,000 homes, community facilities, open space and a section of ELOR on land between the A58 and A64, known as the Northern Quadrant. The council has been working with the applicant and with local community groups to address issues such as the layout of highways, the impact on local traffic, and the location and provision of green space.

• Red Hall: The Red Hall site is located between the Outer North Ring Road and A58 Wetherby Road. The majority of the land is in council ownership and includes the council’s horticultural nursery and depot facilities (17ha) and playing fields and open space (11ha), though the original Red Hall House and stables (1ha) are owned and occupied by the Rugby Football League as its headquarters. The 2006 Unitary Development Plan Review allocated the land for both housing and a key business park, within the ELE. The principle of wholly residential use across the whole of the Red Hall site was put forward in the Site Allocations (Issues & Options) consultation undertaken in June/July 2013 and is now proposed as the allocated land use here through the Site Allocations Plan Publication Draft, with consultation on that plan closing on 16^th November.

• Southern and Middle Quadrants: To help ensure that development comes forward in a co-ordinated way for the section of the East Leeds Extension between the A64 and the Leeds-York-Selby railway line, the council is in the process of preparing a Supplementary Planning Document. This document will primarily focus on the way in which the council expects planning applications to come forward, mechanisms to pay for the East Leeds Orbital Route and the way community facilities and infrastructure such as schools should be brought forward.

Initial consultation will seek views about the content of the document and the main issues it should address, before comments are sought on a draft of the document in spring 2016.

• Manston Lane Development Sites: Alongside the ELE, at the former Vickers tank factory in Barnbow, a first phase of development of 121 units is currently underway by Bellway Homes, the remainder of the site currently being in the ownership of Zurich Financial Services. There is also planning approval for Ben Bailey Homes to develop 138 new homes on the adjoining former Optare factory site. There is potential for development of around 620 further homes on the remainder of the two sites (879 in total), subject to the completion of the Manston Lane Link Road and further planning applications.

• Thorpe Park: While not forming part of the East Leeds Extension, Thorpe Park is a key part of the overall growth potential of this area. The site already accommodates 56,000 square metres of office space and has outline planning approvals in March 2014, with variations in April 2015, to enable the delivery of the next phase of growth. This will include a further 84,000 square metres of office development, 20,000 square metres of leisure uses, 18,000 square metres of retail and 300 new homes and potentially a further 13,000 jobs.

In August 2015, it was announced that Legal & General had taken a 50% stake in the delivery vehicle for the site, Thorpe Park Developments Ltd, reportedly for an equity investment of £162m.

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