1,100 Aire Valley homes planned

PLANS to develop 1,100 homes in the Aire Valley area have been submitted to the authorities, which, if successful, will create around 500 jobs.

The Skelton Gate site is being planned by a joint venture of Evans Property Group and Keyland Developments.

They are planning the development of a residential community with a school and amenities on a 7.4 million sq ft (170 acre) sq ft site within the Leeds Aire Valley.

The JV is attempting to address Leeds City Council’s housing requirement which promises to deliver 6,500 homes in the area by 2028 under the Aire Valley Area Plan.

Aire Valley is undergoing a “renaissance” according to the companies, with major investment going into the Enterprise Zone in the west.

Works are underway on the £96m Temple Green development, which will include Leeds City Council’s Park and Ride transport interchange to connect the area with the heart of Leeds City Centre.

James Pitt, development director at Evans Property Group, said: “Major investment into the Enterprise Zone is already transforming the lower Aire Valley area of Leeds, bringing new business space, transport links and jobs for the whole city to benefit from.

“This application is the culmination of two years of consultation and working with the Council on its long-term housing needs through the development of a sustainable community.”

Peter Garrett, managing director of Keyland Developments, said: “This strategic site has the capacity to make a significant and much-needed contribution to Leeds City Council’s housing requirement for the Aire Valley area of Leeds by bringing a vacant site back into use as a new community.

“In addition to delivering a thousand new homes and a new school with associated community benefits, the development would bring about in excess of 500 construction and operational jobs.”