Plans for 700 more homes at former colliery site unveiled

A planning application to build a further 700 new homes on the 170 acre Skelton Gate site within the Leeds Aire Valley has been lodged, taking the total number of houses being brought forward to 1,800.

Templegate Developments, the joint venture partnership of Evans Property Group and Keyland Developments, were granted planning permission in November 2017 for the creation of a new mixed-use sustainable community at Skelton Gate comprising up to 1,100 new homes, a primary and secondary school, public open space, a local centre and a convenience store as well as associated infrastructure.

Following Leeds City Council approving the adoption of the Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan (AVLAAP), land at Skelton Gate was allocated for a further 700 dwellings.

The inspector’s report said: “The provision of 1801 dwellings, rather than 1100 dwellings, on the site would make a real difference to securing the long-term provision of the necessary physical and social infrastructure to support the development of the site. In particular, the resulting increase in the number of residents would make the provision of a viable bus link to the nearby park and ride site, providing access into the city centre, far more likely to be sustainable in the long-term.

“Moreover, the additional people living on the site likely to result from 1801 dwellings, rather than 1100, would directly support the provision of education facilities on site, including a through-school, and a local centre incorporating a retail element, as well as other types of social and green infrastructure.”

As part of the development proposals, Templegate Developments is also transferring its interests in those parts of Skelton Lake within the site to Leeds City Council in order for the Council to create, possibly in partnership with the RSPB, a new nature reserve. Templegate Developments has also committed to a significant financial contribution to the ongoing management cost of the nature reserve.

The 170-acre former open cast colliery site is located to the east of Junction 45 of the M1 and its delivery is expected to create more than 500 construction and operational jobs.

James Pitt, development director at Evans Property Group, said: “Templegate Developments approached the Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and the then established Yorkshire Forward nearly ten years ago to promote closer working on the regeneration potential for the lower Aire Valley. Under a memorandum of understanding this partnership set out to help meet the challenge of bringing development forward to deliver on a shared vision and to make a significant contribution to the housing and employment objectives of the Area Action Plan. The recent allocations under the AAP and this subsequent application for additional homes at Skelton Gate is the culmination of this collaborative working and will further the major investment proposals by Templegate Developments in this significant regeneration scheme.”

Peter Garrett, managing director of Keyland Developments, said: “We’re really excited about this development.  Our planning application for these additional new homes is intended to complement the existing approved scheme and will make a significant contribution to meeting housing needs in Leeds. The extra residential dwellings will not only make a huge difference to the area’s housing provision but will help us create a sustainable pattern of development in the Aire Valley.”