Work underway to create multi-million pound scheme with 1,800 homes
Work to deliver a new sustainable community to include up to 1,800 new homes on the 170-acre former colliery site at Skelton Gate in Leeds Aire Valley has started.
Templegate Developments, the joint venture partnership of Evans Property Group and Keyland Developments, has appointed contractor Hall Construction Services to deliver phase one of the scheme, which is funded by a £20m Home Building Fund loan from Homes England. Phase one will deliver over 30 net acres of fully serviced development plots by Spring next year.
The 170-acre former open cast colliery site, to the east of Junction 45 of the M1, has planning permission for 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. An additional application is pending for a further 700 homes to take the total consented homes at Skelton Gate to 1,800.
The Homes England loan will fund the delivery of infrastructure and ground preparation works for all three phases, which in total will cost of over £50m. These crucial works will facilitate the development of the entire scheme, which is set to make a significant contribution to the region’s housing targets, in addition to enabling the creation of more than 500 new construction and operational jobs.
Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland Developments, said: “After more than a decade of formulating plans for Skelton Gate, it is incredibly exciting to be live on-site delivering what is one of the most significant regeneration schemes in the Leeds City Region. Skelton Gate has received great support from the City Council and with the backing of the Homes England loan we have commenced the works that will pave the way for this groundbreaking scheme.”
James Pitt, Development Director at Evans Property Group, added: “This major commitment from Templegate Developments, facilitated by the multi-million pound Home Building Fund loan from Homes England, has enabled us to start on the first of three phases of development. We are delighted to have Hall Construction as our construction partner who will deliver the ground works and infrastructure on phase 1 to create serviced development platforms on 33 acres. Game changing developments such as this are achieved through close collaboration and hard work between public and private sector and we are very proud to be actively delivering such an ambitious scheme.”
Neil Milligan, Head of Infrastructure and Complex Projects at Homes England added: “We’re delighted to be assisting the development of the Skelton Gate site through investment in infrastructure. Homes England is committed to working with our partners to deliver new homes in the places where they’re most needed. Supporting the development of strategic housing sites such as Skelton Gate is key to achieving that.”
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.
