In Leeds, the City Council is teaming up with 54North Homes to build 28 eco-friendly, affordable homes in Armley. With a funding of £5.1m, this initiative aims to address the urgent need for sustainable housing and prioritize local council housing registrants.
What is the new housing scheme in Leeds about?
The Leeds City Council is collaborating with 54North Homes to construct 28 eco-friendly, affordable homes in Armley, Leeds. Backed by £5.1m funding, including contributions from Homes England and the city’s commuted sums, this scheme at Wesley Road targets the critical need for sustainable housing and will prioritize local council housing registrants.
Introduction to the Housing Development
Leeds City Council, alongside 54North Homes, is embarking on a mission to address the critical need for affordable housing in the Armley area. A promising new development is set to emerge on Wesley Road, which will see the construction of 28 eco-friendly homes. This development comes as part of a collective effort to bolster the city’s affordable housing stock, utilizing a brownfield site to its maximum potential. With the support of Leeds City Council and national funding from Homes England, this £5.1m scheme is a significant stride towards sustainable living.
The project underscores a commitment to eco-conscious construction, with the inclusion of air source heat pumps for heating and hot water needs. Not only will the scheme enhance the local landscape by integrating mature trees, but it will also feature individual gardens alongside open, landscaped areas. The architectural firm Brewster Bye Architects has designed the homes, Ashfield Projects (Yorkshire) Ltd has been chosen as the building contractor, and BWA will act as the employer’s agent, ensuring a cohesive and well-managed execution of the project.
Financial Structure and Community Impact
The funding narrative for this housing scheme is as innovative as its building technology. Leeds City Council is injecting up to £700,000 from the city’s commuted sums funding stream. This pool accumulates financial contributions by developers through planning agreements, underscoring a model where the city’s growth directly supports the expansion of affordable living spaces. A significant aspect of this housing initiative is the prioritization of tenancy offers. Those on the council’s housing register will be at the front of the line, with initial and subsequent lets aiming to reach those most in need.
Joanna Chambers, director of assets and growth at 54North Homes, emphasizes the company’s broader vision of constructing approximately 250 new homes over the coming three years. With other developments such as the £12m scheme on Railway Street and the Kirkstall Place development, 54North Homes is actively contributing to mitigating the housing shortage in Leeds. Moreover, this scheme marks the company’s first foray into installing air source heat pumps, signifying a milestone in their sustainability journey.
Council’s Vision and Strategic Partnerships
Councillor Jess Lennox, the city council’s executive member for housing, has voiced the council’s firm resolve to make Leeds a city that embodies pride and home for its residents. The new energy-efficient properties at Wesley Road reflect the council’s dedication to not only increase housing numbers but also to enhance the quality of life for citizens. By transforming a derelict plot into a vibrant community space, the scheme exemplifies the positive outcomes of collaboration between the council and its partners.
The anticipated outcome of this project goes beyond just providing roofs over heads. With an annual average of 550 affordable homes recently delivered, and the expectation to increase this figure to approximately 750 in the next few years, the council is turning numbers into narratives of happiness and security for Leeds inhabitants. The site’s historical significance, formerly owned by the Diocese of Leeds and nestled near St Bartholomew’s Church, adds to the community-oriented spirit of the development.
Notes to Editors:
54North Homes, now managing over 3,500 homes across Yorkshire, has emerged from the merger of Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association and York Housing Association in December 2022. Being a subsidiary of the Karbon Homes Group, the organization benefits from a strategic partnership with Homes England which has allocated £165m in funding. This injection is earmarked to facilitate the delivery of 2,200 new affordable homes in the North East and Yorkshire in the forthcoming years, contributing to the national effort to tackle the housing crisis.
For media enquiries, please contact Leeds City Council communications and marketing at communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk or call 0113 378 6007.
- Leeds City Council is partnering with 54North Homes to build 28 eco-friendly, affordable homes in Armley with a funding of £5.1m.
- The housing scheme aims to address the urgent need for sustainable housing and prioritize local council housing registrants.
- The project will feature air source heat pumps, individual gardens, and open landscaped areas designed by Brewster Bye Architects.
- Leeds City Council is contributing up to £700,000 from commuted sums funding, supporting the growth of affordable living spaces.
- 54North Homes plans to build approximately 250 new homes over the next three years, contributing to mitigating housing shortage in Leeds.