Councillors to discuss proposals for £85m plan to deliver 10,000 city centre homes
Leeds senior councillors are set to be asked to support a proposal to invest £85m in infrastructure to help deliver approximately 10,000 new homes in the city centre at a meeting next week.
The meeting of Leeds council’s executive board at Civic Hall on 13 February will discuss work being undertaken to provide new and affordable homes together with supporting infrastructure for a mixed community in the city centre.
The plan includes a submitting a bid to the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) to secure £85m of funding to invest in the city centre to support the development of around 10,000 new homes..
If successful, this bid to the HIF would unlock the delivery of 10,000 new homes in the city centre by 2033, with work potentially starting on new infrastructure works and supporting improvements before the end of this year.
The ‘Leeds Living’ programme would see an improved range of housing options and investments in the city centre, with improved connectivity for surrounding communities, as well as enhanced transport links and accessibility plus new shared amenities such as schools, health and leisure facilities together with public spaces for recreation.
The council is aiming for 20% of all new homes in the city centre to be some form of affordable housing, while they will also look to maximise the benefits of utilising the low-carbon heat offered by the new District Heating network.
To help achieve the aim of having a mixed community in the city centre, the council is working with developers, landowners and partners to address issues in the housing market.
The Leeds Living programme will work in conjunction with other city plans including the Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy, the Best City Centre Vision, Our Spaces Strategy, the South Bank Regeneration Framework and the Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy to help develop and realise the potential of Leeds city centre.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, said: “The ongoing success of the South Bank programme shows what can be achieved by targeted investment in a range of new facilities to expand the city centre and make it a place people and families want to live and work in.
“We know more and more people are now wanting to live in city centres having all key amenities within easy reach. This investment would allow us to deliver even more positive growth in the city centre, with a vibrant mixed community and new facilities for everybody to benefit from.
“By enabling much improved connections with neighbourhoods adjoining the city centre we can ensure greater opportunities for residents to access jobs and learning opportunities as well as facilities and services.”
