Funding awards to unlock housing development sites

Funding awards of £7m will help unlock the development of more than 600 homes in Leeds.

The Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund has backed two schemes – a road scheme in Otley and land remediation in Chapeltown – that should pave the way for work to begin on site.

Cllr Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, said: “These projects are different in many ways but demonstrate the breadth of our approach to delivering planned housing growth, whilst recognising the diversity of needs and aspirations across the whole district.”

The city is still waiting to hear if a further major bid to the same fund has been successful, which would support aspirations to build 16,500 new homes in the city centre.

The £2.3bn Housing Infrastructure Fund received an additional £2.7bn in the Budget last autumn and is designed to support local authorities to deliver more housing.

The bulk of the confirmed funding will go towards the construction of the 1.5km East of Otley Relief Road. A bypass would relieve traffic pressure in Otley town centre and the £6.3m funding will enable work to begin.

Land has been earmarked for 550 new homes as well as a new primary school, employment uses and green space and the infrastructure investment will help unlock the site.

At Roundhay Road a partnership formed between Unity Housing Association and Chapeltown Co-housing (ChaCo) will benefit from a grant of £990,000 to remediate the site and to build affordable apartments for over-55s alongside an innovative project led by local people to create a co-housing scheme along with self-build opportunities.

Work should be able to begin shortly at the ChaCo site with completion scheduled for late 2019.

Cllr Lewis added: “We look forward to working with the government on finalising the details of these schemes in the months to come in keeping with our commitment to provide and support new housing and growth at sustainable levels and in the right way for all communities in the city to benefit from.”