The Leeds Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP) is vibrantly delivering quality, affordable homes across Leeds by constructing new properties and acquiring existing ones, like six new family homes on Manston Lane in Cross Gates from Strata.
Funded by Right to Buy receipts and borrowing, this program has already added over 400 new builds and 479 acquired homes across 32 city wards, with more under construction in places like Seacroft and Middleton, ensuring accessible housing for residents on the council’s housing register.
What is the Leeds Council Housing Growth Programme and how does it deliver affordable homes?
The Leeds Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP) delivers quality, affordable homes by building new houses and acquiring properties across the city. Funded by Right to Buy receipts and borrowing, CHGP offers both affordable and social rent tenures, ensuring accessible housing for diverse residents via the council’s housing register.
Building and Acquiring for Lasting Impact
The Leeds City Council’s commitment to expanding access to affordable and high-quality housing for its residents is being realized through the Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP). Over the past five years, this initiative has led to the successful construction of more than 400 new homes. However, the scope of the CHGP extends well beyond new builds, demonstrating a multifaceted approach in addressing housing needs. In addition to newly constructed homes, a further 479 properties – some of which are new builds – were acquired from private owners and developers. These homes are now part of the council’s affordable housing stock, available for rent by those on the housing register.
A key aspect of the CHGP’s impact is its reach across Leeds. The 479 acquired homes span 32 different city wards, ensuring that the benefits of the programme are felt widely and are not limited to select neighborhoods. This city-wide approach helps to foster more balanced communities and ensures that affordable housing opportunities are accessible to a diverse range of residents. As of September, the council marked another milestone by acquiring six newly built family homes on Manston Lane in Cross Gates, developed by Yorkshire-based Strata. These three-bedroom homes are part of a larger development, with eight more homes purchased earlier in the year, now housing local council tenants.
Funding for the CHGP has primarily come from the council’s housing service, utilizing a combination of Right to Buy receipts and borrowing. This financial strategy has proved sustainable, with the council recently approving the same funding mechanism for the programme’s second phase. Scheduled to run from 2026 to 2031, phase two will continue the dual strategy of building new homes and acquiring existing properties, reflecting the success and adaptability of the programme’s first stage.
Exemplary Standards and Community Transformation
The CHGP places a strong emphasis on quality, ensuring that all homes – whether built or acquired – are suitable for long-term community benefit. Councillor Jess Lennox, Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing, remarked on the significance of the programme, stating, “The building activity and acquisitions work undertaken by the programme has delivered hundreds of homes that are not only high quality but affordable as well.” Lennox’s comments underscore the council’s focus on both construction standards and affordability, ensuring these homes are “spacious, warm and welcoming.”
Recent CHGP new-build projects illustrate the programme’s transformative effect on local areas. On Brooklands Avenue in Seacroft, the council completed 25 one-bedroom apartments and eight two- and three-bedroom houses on what was formerly a brownfield site. This regeneration effort not only supplies new homes but also rejuvenates previously underutilized land, contributing to broader urban renewal. Another major project in Middleton saw the creation of 176 homes on land that once hosted the Throstle Recreation Ground and Middleton Skills Centre. This development includes the 60-apartment Gascoigne House extra care facility, expanding options for residents with varying housing needs.
Ongoing construction further demonstrates the council’s continued commitment. Developments are currently underway at Hough Top in Swinnow, the former Middlecross Day Centre site in Armley, and the Ambertons area of Gipton. In Gipton, 16 homes have already been delivered, with 39 more to come. Each of these sites will add valuable housing stock for those on the council’s housing register, reinforcing the council’s steady progress in delivering on its housing goals.
Making Homes Affordable: Tenure, Funding, and Access
Understanding the types of housing tenure offered through the CHGP is key to appreciating its impact on affordability. The programme supplies homes for both affordable rent and social rent. According to the UK Government’s definition, affordable rent is set at least 20 percent below prevailing local market rates. Social rent, meanwhile, is even lower, established by a formula that takes into account local incomes, the size of the property, and property value. These tenures ensure that families and individuals with a range of financial circumstances can access safe, secure, and affordable homes.
The CHGP’s financial underpinning derives largely from the council’s use of Right to Buy receipts – funds generated from the sale of council homes to tenants – and strategic borrowing. This blended funding model allows the council to finance construction and acquisition without over-reliance on any single source, helping to maintain momentum in the delivery of new homes. The council’s decision to carry this funding approach into the next phase of the CHGP highlights confidence in its effectiveness and sustainability.
Residents seeking to benefit from the CHGP can register for the Leeds City Council housing register. The register is the principal mechanism through which homes are allocated, giving priority based on need and eligibility. This transparent and equitable process ensures that those most in need are able to access the new homes as they become available, supporting community stability and social inclusion.
Community Voices, Broader Impact, and Future Growth
The positive outcomes of the CHGP are reflected in the lived experiences of council tenants and the wider community. Feedback from new residents consistently highlights the value of high-quality, affordable homes in providing a stable foundation for families, fostering well-being, and promoting social cohesion. The new properties’ modern standards, energy efficiency, and thoughtful design have been particularly praised, aligning with Leeds City Council’s broader goals for sustainable development.
Councillor Lennox’s recent visit to the Manston Lane development in Cross Gates captured the sense of pride and achievement shared by those involved in the CHGP. Lennox noted, “These spacious, warm and welcoming homes have been built to exacting standards and will be great places for local families to live. Everyone involved with the programme deserves huge credit for the results they have achieved to date and their determination to keep on delivering in years to come.” This endorsement reflects the collective effort, from council leaders to construction teams, that is fueling the programme’s success.
Looking ahead, the target of reaching 500 acquisitions by the end of the year marks a significant milestone in the first phase of the CHGP. The continued rollout of new developments, coupled with the transition to the programme’s second phase from 2026, demonstrates Leeds City Council’s long-term commitment to addressing housing need. The blend of building new homes and acquiring high-quality properties ensures that the city’s affordable housing offer remains dynamic, responsive, and inclusive for years to come.
For more information:
- Leeds City Council Council Housing Growth Programme
- UK Government: Affordable Housing Guidance
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The Leeds Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP) delivers quality, affordable homes by constructing new properties and acquiring existing ones.
- The program is funded by Right to Buy receipts and borrowing.
- Over the past five years, the initiative has led to the construction of more than 400 new homes and the acquisition of 479 properties.
- The acquired homes span 32 different city wards, ensuring widespread benefit across Leeds.
- The CHGP provides homes for both affordable rent (at least 20% below market rates) and social rent (even lower, based on a formula).