Public consultation on revised future housing figure for Leeds starts
Public consultation on changes to the Core Strategy in Leeds, including a lower future housing target for the city, has started today.
Following approval by the council’s executive board earlier this week, consultation will run for the next six weeks inviting views on the selective review of the Core Strategy, which underpins all development in Leeds.
This includes improving housing quality and a revised overall housing target for the city of providing 51,952 new homes from 2017 to 2033. If supported and endorsed by the government, this would replace the current target of 70,000 new homes between 2012 and 2028.
The figure has been recommended to be reduced following a review of the housing aspect of the strategy to take into account the latest figures as well as new government guidelines on assessing future housing need.
Together with a phased approach to bringing forward sites for development, the extended delivery period from 2028 to 2033 will offer further flexibility to respond to levels of housing need in the city over time, said Leeds City Council.
This revised figure has been agreed and put forward for public consultation by the council’s cross-party development plan panel.
Other aspects of the review for public consideration include elements around housing standards, accessibility, affordable housing, greenspace, sustainable homes and electric vehicle charging points in the city.
Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Cllr Richard Lewis said: “We are very pleased to now be able to put these changes including the revised future housing figure for the city out for public consultation as we said we would do.
“This approach will help us to ensure Leeds has a plan-led approach with the right houses being built where they are needed.
“This is an issue which is of pivotal importance to the future growth and development of Leeds so we want as many people as possible to look at these plans and tell us what they think.”
