Construction work is under way on an extra care housing scheme that will open up new independent living opportunities for older people in Armley.
Leeds City Council’s Middlecross development will provide a total of 65 high-quality and energy efficient apartments for affordable rent by people aged over 55 with care and support needs.
The homes – which are being built by Morgan Sindall Construction – will complement wider efforts to address a serious shortage of extra care housing in the city.
Part of Leeds’ Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP), the scheme will also benefit the Armley community by breathing new life into a two-acre brownfield site that has lain empty for several years.
The council’s executive member for housing, Councillor Jess Lennox, visited the site to meet some of the project team and see the early progress that has been made there.
Councillor Lennox was joined by representatives from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which has contributed £1.3m from its Brownfield Housing Fund towards the cost of the scheme.
The scheme’s three-storey apartment building has been designed to encourage everyday social interaction as well as independent living, with a restaurant, a hair salon and an open-plan lounge and coffee bar among the communal spaces that will be available to residents.
The building will have high levels of ventilation and insulation while benefiting from features such as ground source heat pumps and roof-mounted solar panels.
The site for the scheme – which sits between Armley Grove Place and Simpson Grove – was occupied by Middlecross Day Centre until its demolition in 2018.
Councillor Jess Lennox, Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing, said: “It’s great news that construction work is now under way on this important scheme, which will help address the well-documented shortage of affordable extra care housing in Leeds.
“The Middlecross development highlights the impact of our Council Housing Growth Programme and, by extension, our commitment to ensuring that everyone in Leeds can enjoy the stability and security that comes with a safe, warm and good-quality home.”
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Because of devolution, we’ve been able to invest almost £90m to help unlock over 5,000 new homes, including dozens of affordable and sustainable homes in Armley.
“Working with Leeds City Council, we’re taking decisive action to tackle the housing crisis and deliver the warm, high-quality homes that local families need, with lower rents and energy bills.”
A further £1.3m has been drawn from Leeds’ commuted sums funding stream, which supports affordable housing delivery using pooled financial contributions paid by developers as part of planning agreements.
The rest of the funding for the project – due for completion in 2027 – has come from the council’s housing service via Right to Buy receipts and borrowing.
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