Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew has urged the council to take a more moderate position on plans to build 70,000 homes in Leeds.
He recently met with the Department for Communities and Local Government to raise concerns regarding the Leeds City Council’s housing target of 70,000 new homes – a figure he believes is in need of urgent revision to protect the Green Belt in outer West Leeds from ‘unnecessary’ development.
He has urged the council to set realistic housing targets, concentrate on the revitalization of brownfield sites, and protection of greenspace in Pudsey and Aireborough.
Council chiefs say they are putting together proposals to cater for a population boom in Leeds over the next 15 years. Running until 5pm on Monday 16 November, the second and final consultation – Your City, Your Plan – is calling for views on potential locations identified for new housing, employment, retail and green space across Leeds up to 2028.
Issues discussed by Mr Andrew in London included the location of the planned developments, and the need for revision of the housing targets.
Mr Andrew said:
“After hearing from a number of constituents, I was aware of the many concerns within the Leeds surrounding the Leeds Council’s proposed housing target, and its impact on our Greenspace.
“Over the last 15 years, Leeds has seen significant house building that resulted in a number of problems, including congested roads and overcrowded schools, which will be exacerbated by the Council’s housing target.
“I was pleased to find that the Department for Communities and Local Government is taking this important issue seriously. I will continue to press for more sustainable gousing targets, and to represent local concerns regarding Greenspace development.”
Mr Andrew was accompanied on his visit by local resident Jennifer Kirkby, of Aireborough Neighborhood Forum.
The proposals
The council says the highest allocation of new homes will be in the city centre and ‘inner area’ of Armley, Beeston Hill, Belle Isle, Gipton and Harehills, Hyde Park and Woodhouse, Hunslet and Seacroft.
Land allocated for housing in west Leeds also includes: Airedale Mills in Rodley, Calverley Lane, Hill Foot Farm in Pudsey, Gamble Lane/Tong Road in Farnley, Hough Side Road, Pudsey, Acres Hall Avenue/Troydale Lane in Pudsey, Wortley High School site, Wortley Low Mills off Whitehall Road, and Dick Lane in Thornbury.
A new gypsy and travellers site could be built on land allocated off Farnley Ring Road and Stonebridge Lane, near the reservoir.
There are also longer term plans – post 2028 – for greenbelt land off the back of Hare Park Mount, Farnley (pictured above). Homes could be built at Bagley Lane, Farsley and off Low Moor Side in New Farnley.
In Armley, there are also plans for Wesley Road and land has been allocated for a mixed housing and employment at Armley Gyratory. Included in the land allocation is housing up Kirkstall Road and in the Otter Island area.
Following the consultation, the responses will be reviewed with the plans and comments then submitted to the government for examination.
The Dispatch reported in June how council chiefs rejected government statistics on projected population growth in the city, which showed that the number of households is projected to rise in Leeds by just 44,500 over the next 15 years.