Words: John Baron
New £200 million plans for a major mixed development off Kirkstall Road will be discussed by planners next week.
A new masterplan looks to provide around 1,437 new homes and 362 student rooms, located across 11 buildings.
The homes would sit alongside a new riverside park, a bridge, and art, café and workspaces at the former Yorkshire Chemicals site between the River Aire and Kirkstall Road.
Early plans show space for amenities such as a convenience store, food hall, commercial shed, café, work hubs, start-up spaces, cultural space, cycle hub, GP surgery, gym, community hall, concierge service, residents’ lounge and a parcel delivery hub.
The development, currently called ‘Kirkstall Road’, would comprise homes for private sale, shared ownership and rent, including student accommodation, with up to 35% being affordable housing.
Some of the buildings would be from 15 to 17 storeys storeys high. Vehicular access to the site will be via two left in/left out entrance points from Kirkstall Road, located within the centre and eastern areas of the site.
A council planning officer’s report adds:
“The taller elements of the scheme are located along the River Aire Frontage and Kirkstall Road corridor with heights, stepping down to a ‘mews street’ running through the centre of the scheme, along which 14 townhouses will be provided.”
Around 243 car parking spaces would be on site along with 1,148 secure cycle parking spaces.
Councillors sitting on next Thursday’s City Plans Panel will give their initial feedback on the scheme to the developer. Councillors will consider and comment on the proposals at what’s called the ‘pre-application’ phase, ahead of a formal planning application being submitted to Leeds Council for consideration.
Latimer, the development arm of Clarion Housing Group, bought the 13-acre brownfield site, which was formerly known as City Reach, in August 2020.
The site has existing planning permission for more than 1,000 homes alongside student accommodation, but Latimer has carried out a redesign to deliver a residential-led mixed-use scheme.
Developers hope the plans could lead to further regeneration in the Kirkstall Road area, which was hit by floods when the River Aire broke its banks on Boxing Day 2015.
The full agenda and reports for next week’s City Plans Panel meeting can be viewed in full here.
WLD reported on a public consultation on the proposals in May.
Check out WLD’s coverage of the former Yorkshire Chemicals site here.
.. Causing EVEN MORE Traffic congestion ! Fantastic
Making Kirkstall Road even busier, and more dangerous due to its reduced width, with the capacity for an additional 243 car parking spaces. Well done to the town planners on the council!