Innovative techniques deployed for housing scheme on brownfield land
Work has begun to transform a vacant brownfield site in Leeds into a 30-home housing development.
The scheme will deliver a total of 14 one-bedroom apartments, ten two-bedroom houses and six three-bedroom homes – two of which will be on a satellite site, replacing two old properties that were previously demolished.
The homes to be built at Leeds Meynell, in Holbeck, will be constructed in less than nine months, with the first residents expected to move in by early summer 2022.
And they will be built using a timber frame construction process, that involves constructing elements of the properties offsite – in a factory-controlled setting – before transporting them to site for assembly.
A “Fabric first” approach – which involves maximising performance of the materials and components that make up the fabric of the building – will help to ensure energy efficiency and lower fuel bills.
The project is being delivered through Leeds City Council’s Housing Growth Programme, which aims to build around 1,500 new, high-quality social housing units over the next five years.
Once completed, the new homes will be managed by the council and will become part of its affordable housing stock,
Mick Holling, managing director with United Living New Homes North, said: “Leeds is a thriving and growing city which needs new, good quality housing to meet demand.
“We look forward to playing a central role in regenerating this area of Leeds and creating much-needed new homes for local people.
“The timber frame sector is transforming the way new homes are built. It offers a comprehensive, energy-efficient and low carbon solution for social housing that is high-quality, affordable and easily accessible and adaptable.”
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds city council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said: “One of Leeds’ biggest priorities is to provide enough housing to meet the needs of a growing population.
“This is why we have developed our programme to build 1,500 new affordable homes over the next five years; all of which need to be high quality and accessible.
“Not only will this scheme positively contribute towards this ambition, it will also help us achieve our climate targets by providing people with energy efficient, low carbon homes.”
As the principal contractor for the development, United Living will partner with Leeds City Council and William Saunders Architects.
