Work begins on major affordable housing development in Leeds

Work has begun on a £40m council housing development which will regenerate Throstle Recreation Ground and the former Middleton Skills Centre in Leeds.

The development will consist of 60 two-bed, 38 three-bed, two four-bed properties, as well as four bungalows.

It will also include an extra care housing facility for older people requiring care and onsite support, with 47 one-bed and 13 two-bed open plan apartments that will all be wheelchair accessible, and 12 one-bed bungalows for adults of working age with disabilities.

The new housing is being developed by Wates Construction and is scheduled to be finished by autumn 2023.

Cllr Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council executive member for infrastructure and climate, said: ‘I am thrilled to see that work has now started on site to create one of the council’s largest affordable housing projects. Not only will it contribute positively towards our ambition of building more affordable housing in the city, but the new energy-efficient homes and electric vehicle charging points will also help in our efforts against the climate emergency.

‘We know green space is important, especially in this area, and that is why a clear focus of this development is to invest in high-quality green space for people of all ages to benefit from and we will continue to work with residents in the surrounding areas to minimise disruption as much as possible. I look forward to seeing this exciting project develop over the coming months.’

David Wingfield, Regional Director for the North East at Wates Construction, added: ‘We have an excellent relationship with Leeds City Council and look forward to working with them.  We fully recognise how important housing growth schemes like this are to the council’s future ambitions and we’re proud to play our part in the delivery of this affordable housing project, which will not only benefit the local economy and provide new green spaces for the community, but by accessing a network of local SME’s, this scheme will have a lasting impact on the local economy from the very outset.’

In related news, work is underway on the first phase of the £200m Becketwell regeneration scheme in Derby, with the steelwork now in place for a new 11 storey apartment block on the site of the former Debenham’s building.

Photo supplied by Leeds City Council