The new housing development, Doris Storey House in Leeds, pays tribute to local Olympic swimmer Doris Storey, honoring Leeds’ sporting heritage. The project involves affordable homes and is part of Leeds City Council’s Housing Growth Programme, ensuring Doris Storey’s legacy inspires future generations with community pride and remembrance.
What is the significance of the new housing development named Doris Storey House in Leeds?
The new housing development, Doris Storey House, stands as a tribute to local Olympic swimmer Doris Storey, celebrating Leeds’ sporting heritage. It symbolizes community pride and remembrance, with local schoolchildren involved in its naming. The project includes affordable homes and is part of Leeds City Council’s Housing Growth Programme, ensuring the legacy of Doris Storey inspires future generations.
Celebrating Local Sporting Heritage
Leeds’ commitment to honoring its local heroes has taken a concrete form with the new council housing development on Brooklands Avenue. Wates Construction is leading the project on behalf of Leeds City Council, intending to complete a five-storey apartment building by next spring. This isn’t just another housing development; it’s a foray into celebrating local heritage, aptly named Doris Storey House. The champion swimmer Doris made a splash in the 1938 Empire Games, and now her legacy is set to inspire future generations.
The initiative extends beyond mere construction; community engagement is at its heart. Schoolchildren from Seacroft’s Beechwood Primary School were invited to brainstorm names for the new building. Their decision to honor the late Doris Storey reflects a deep appreciation for local history. Doris, who hailed from East Leeds, was a formidable athlete, clinching two gold medals at the tender age of 19. In tribute to the children’s involvement, Wates Construction presented a £500 gift to Beechwood Primary, marking the significance of this intergenerational collaboration.
The unveiling of Doris Storey House is not just about putting up new walls but also about instilling pride and remembrance in the local community. The project includes 25 one-bedroom apartments, with an additional eight two and three-bedroom houses taking shape alongside the main building. Furthermore, an ambitious housing initiative sees 55 homes currently under development in Gipton, signaling a broader commitment to affordable housing in Leeds.
Housing Growth and Community Influence
The Council Housing Growth Programme spearheaded by Leeds City Council is the framework within which this significant development is unfolding. It emphasizes not only the provision of quality, affordable homes but also the infusion of local history and communal values into new projects. Most of the funding for the scheme comes from the council itself, supplemented by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund. The scheme’s financial underpinning is crucial in ensuring that these homes are accessible to those who need them most.
Councillor Jess Lennox, the city council’s executive member for housing, expressed her elation over the project. She said, “Doris Storey was a genuine Leeds sporting hero and her trailblazing exploits deserve to be remembered and celebrated, both now and into the future.” The council member commended the children at Beechwood Primary for their role in this commemorative act. Similarly, Leah Larkin, Wates’ social value advisor, emphasized the importance of embedding the city’s history in its future, lauding the project as “a part of Leeds for years and years to come.”
The collaborative effort extends beyond the walls of the council and construction company. Melissa Callaby, a teacher at Beechwood Primary School, highlighted the educational aspect of the project. Year 3 students get involved in different local projects each year, and learning about Doris Storey’s legacy was particularly impactful. Callaby underscored the importance of passing on the stories of local heroes to ensure their achievements continue to resonate.
Legacy and Educational Impact
The engagement doesn’t end with naming rights; the connection between past and present is palpable. Doris’s grandson, Darren Quarmby, attended the school event with his brother Damian, both expressing immense pride in the recognition their grandmother received. The children’s understanding and respect for Doris’s achievements left a lasting impression on the family.
Doris Storey’s life is interwoven with the history of Leeds. She represented Great Britain at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, making her mark on the global stage. Her success at the Empire Games two years later, where she emerged as a double gold medallist, cemented her position as a hometown hero. Doris was not only a twice world record holder in the 100-yard breaststroke but she was also a figure of resilience, balancing her training with her job as a machinist at the local Burton’s factory.
The Brooklands Avenue development stands as a testament to Doris’s tenacity and success. It serves as a beacon of inspiration, not just for aspiring athletes, but for all residents of Leeds who walk past Doris Storey House. The project is a reminder of the indelible mark that one individual’s achievements can leave on a community’s collective memory. As new tenants eventually fill the apartments and homes, they will become part of a living tribute to a woman whose athletic prowess brought glory to Leeds.
The legacy of Doris Storey is now etched into the fabric of Leeds’s future. Doris Storey House will stand as a permanent monument to her remarkable life and sports career. It’s a legacy that will undoubtedly continue to inspire and educate, just as the champion swimmer herself did over eight decades ago. The city’s efforts in preserving and honoring its local history through this housing development ensure that the spirit of Doris Storey will ripple through the heart of the Leeds community for many years to come.
Doris Storey’s Achievements and Legacy
Leeds City Council’s Housing Growth Programme
West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund
ENDS
- The new housing development, Doris Storey House, in Leeds pays tribute to local Olympic swimmer Doris Storey, celebrating Leeds’ sporting heritage.
- The project involves affordable homes and is part of Leeds City Council’s Housing Growth Programme, ensuring Doris Storey’s legacy inspires future generations with community pride and remembrance.
- Wates Construction is leading the project, intending to complete a five-storey apartment building by next spring, celebrating local heritage.
- Schoolchildren from Beechwood Primary School were involved in naming the building after Doris Storey, reflecting a deep appreciation for local history.
- The project includes 25 one-bedroom apartments and additional two and three-bedroom houses, part of a broader commitment to affordable housing in Leeds.