Words: Don Mort, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Additional reporting: John Baron, WLD editor
Video: Michael Broomhead, Multimedia Local Democracy Reporter
Councillors say revised plans for 25 local authority homes in Farsley have improved from the initial proposals – but have warned the council must still listen to local concerns.
Leeds City Council hopes to redevelop the former Richmond House care home site into 25 affordable homes and provide the village with its first new council housing for decades.
One and two bedroom apartments would be built on Richmond Road if a planning application is successful.
The council said all the flats would be intended for rent by people on the Leeds Homes register.
Labour councillor Craig Timmins said there was a growing need for affordable homes in his Calverley and Farsley ward.
He said: “My case work is full of people who are desperate for a new home and this will really help alleviate some of that pressure. We’ve not had any council homes built in the Calverley and Farsley ward since the 1970s.”
Cllr Timmins said social housing stock had depleted over the years after people were given the right to buy their council homes.
Initial plans for 33 flats in a building of up to three storeys were originally drawn up by the council two years ago. The development was down-sized to 25 flats over two storeys following a public consultation which saw nearby residents raise a number of concerns
Cllr Timmins said there were concerns over increased traffic and greater demand on local services.
He said: “There are genuine concerns and we have to listen to them. I’ve actually called for a masterplan of the entire area to look at the highways and local services to make sure people aren’t left behind and the services are good enough.”
Watch Cllr Timmins’ interview about the site here:
Councillor Andrew Carter (Conservative, Calverley & Farsley) said the flats were ‘much needed and long overdue’.
He said: “I am very pleased the council has now managed to finally come forward with a proper scheme, with more two bedroom flats and fewer one bedroom flats than originally proposed.
“Thanks to the very forthright input from local residents and myself at the public consultation, we have got a far better design and layout.
“In my view there are still one or two tweaks required to the layout and appearance, but I think these improvements can be obtained. There also has to be sufficient parking on site.
“It is a great pity that the council’s original plans were so badly thought out and caused such annoyance to local residents. The fact that we have got a much better scheme underlines the importance of proper local consultation and actually listening.”
A council design report said shops and bus stops would be within walking distance of the new flats.
It said: “The scheme represents a well designed, sustainable development that will make a positive contribution to the local area, providing much-needed affordable housing and bringing forward a brownfield site.”
The council says there is currently a shortage of affordable housing in Farsley, with one and two-bedroom homes those in greatest demand.
A full planning application is out for consultation until September 14. The plans can be viewed in full here.
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