Council blocks Chinese backed build to rent scheme

A build to rent development that was backed by the UK development arm of Chinese firm CIMC in Leeds has been blocked by Leeds City Council city plans panel.

The joint application by Galliford Try Investments and CIMC which relates to land of Flax Place, to the east of Leeds city centre, was for two tower buildings of 15 and 11 storeys respectively.

The decision was made despite council officers’ recommendations to defer and delegate the application to the chief planning officer for approval.

DPP who acted on behalf of Galliford Try and CIMC had previously gained planning permission for a 300 unit residential development on the site in 2018, which was described in the latest application as being “unviable”.

In a unanimous vote by the panel it was noted the development failed to comply with the council policy position with regards to affordable housing, which says 7% of a development must be affordable.

According to the submitted plans 3% of the scheme – or 11 units – were designated for affordable housing by the developer, which was deemed to be at the “margins” of viability.

Another reason cited for the refusal was the quality of the design, which during the meeting on 7 January was described by one objector as “ugly as sin”.

Leeds Civic Trust said the design had been “‘Dumbed down’ from the well-expressed modelling and classic framing of the original [2018] to a flatter, blander treatment.”

Councillor Caroline Gruen, council member for Bramley and Stanningley, said the fact the developer could only offer half of the required affordable housing weighed heavily on her mind.

She added: “I would encourage my colleagues to think about [the fact the scheme cannot offer more than 3% affordable housing] long and hard when we think about our direction.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close