Work to Begin on £12M Affordable Housing Project in Leeds
Work is due to start on-site this month to build 58 affordable and sustainable homes in Leeds. How will this help to amplify energy efficiency in Leeds?
Located on Railway Street in central Leeds, close to Quarry House, the scheme will include 28 one-bedroom, 25 two-bedroom and five three-bedroom apartments designed to a high specification throughout.
Built on the site of the former Yorkshire Rider Social Club, the homes are said to be energy-efficient. They will feature heat pumps, EV charging points, and cycle storage to facilitate green travel.
They will also have a flexible layout, including workspace areas to accommodate the increase in home working. To enhance biodiversity, the outside of the homes will be landscaped with trees, and each of the ground-floor apartments will have its own garden.
Funding has been provided through the Brownfield Housing Fund
The £12 million scheme is the first new-build development to be built by 54North Homes, which manages over 3,000 homes throughout Yorkshire.
It has been funded by Homes England Strategic Partnership funding, Leeds City Council, and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, through its devolved Brownfield Housing Fund.
Councillor Jess Lennox, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Housing, explained that increasing affordable housing in the city is essential to ensure that Leeds has opportunities and communities for all.
She said: “The progress we have made and are continuing to make in the area is illustrated perfectly by schemes such as this one at Railway Street, where council grant support and land assets are being used to deliver high-quality, energy-efficient homes and attractive outdoor spaces.”
It’s great to see building work now getting underway and we will watch this with interest – and no small amount of pride – as the development takes shape over the coming months.
Affordable housing is key to supporting Leeds’ local communities
The land at Railway Street was sold by Leeds City Council to 54North Homes, with all initial tenancies due to be made available to applicants on the council’s housing register.
54North Homes owns and manages over 3,000 homes throughout Yorkshire, ranging from general needs housing to extra-care homes and student homes.
The housing association was formed in December 2022, through a merger between Leeds and Yorkshire Housing Association and York Housing Association and is a subsidiary of the Karbon Homes Group.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “As someone who grew up in social housing, I understand the importance of having a safe and affordable place to call home.”
Secure housing impacts positively on every aspect of a person’s life, so I was thrilled to be able to fund dozens of good quality, energy-efficient and sustainable homes at Railway Street in Leeds.
Tracy continued by explaining that going forward, providing affordable housing is a significant focus for West Yorkshire: “As Mayor, I have pledged to support the delivery of new, affordable and sustainable homes across West Yorkshire, and I will continue to work alongside our partners such as Leeds City Council and 54North Homes to deliver that pledge.”
An average of nearly 500 affordable homes have been built in Leeds over each of the previous five years, and it is expected that the annual figure will rise to around 750 over the next three years.
Meeting the city’s housing needs and providing high-quality affordable homes in thriving and inclusive communities is crucial, and schemes like this will help provide appropriate support for those who need it most.
