Apartments planned for site of disused police station

A developer wants to turn a former police station site in Leeds into 127 build-to-rent apartments.

Plans have been submitted by Pickard Properties, a family-owned property developer and landlord.

The company is proposing to regenerate the site of the former Weetwood Police station into a purpose-built residential scheme.

It aims to create a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, along with green communal areas and landscaping.

Communal landscaped areas will also be publicly accessible, with new pathways proposed that will allow local people to walk through.

If permission is granted by Leeds City Council, demolition of the existing buildings is expected to start in early 2024 with construction to begin later that year.

The site was acquired by Pickard Properties, advised by Fox Lloyd Jones, after West Yorkshire Police closed the station and put the building up for sale in 2020.

The company has formed a development team to take its proposals forward including Leeds-based planning consultants, Quod, architects Halliday Clark, based in Ilkley and Project Management & Quantity Surveyors Fox Lloyd Jones, also based in Leeds.

Miles Pickard, director of Pickard Properties, said: “The site presents an ideal opportunity to transform previously developed land into a vibrant new community, complementing neighbouring green spaces with high quality apartments that are designed to be sympathetic to their surroundings.

“It will also make an important contribution to the growing demand for new modern homes in Leeds.”

Tim Waring, senior director at Quod, said: “We have worked with planning officers at Leeds City Council to develop proposals for a scheme that will not only fit seamlessly into the local area, but will bring about a sustainable and high-quality, sensitive transformation of this site.

“Being in a highly sustainable location and on a main route into the city, the scheme will help meet local housing needs as well as attract those keen to relocate to Leeds and support the city’s ongoing economic growth.”

Richard Walsh, director at Halliday Clark, said: “In addition to creating impressive new homes, the development will adopt high environmental standards that respond to the city council’s climate emergency agenda.

“It has also been designed to use green energy solutions and enhance biodiversity and local green spaces.”

Daniel Jamieson, director at Fox Lloyd Jones, added: “The materials and construction methods that will be employed in this scheme will be highly sustainable and be sympathetic to the local area.

“It will provide residents with a landscape-orientated and safe environment, which can also be enjoyed by the local community.”