Words: Richard Beecham
Sites in Leeds could get a slice of more than £60m to help build houses on former industrial land in the region.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), which looks after large regional transport and infrastructure projects, is set to discuss its brownfield housing fund at a meeting later this week.
It could help more than 1,700 houses to be built in West Leeds alone.
Papers also include a list of potential sites which are expected to be brought back into use with the assistance of public money – those include sites at Marsh Lane, Kirkstall Forge, Wellington Road and Globe Road.
The Brownfield Housing Fund is a direct allocation from Government of £67m to the WYCA on the understanding it becomes a mayoral authority – planned for this spring. It is hoped that more than 30,000 homes across West Yorkshire, with 8,000 across 16 sites across Leeds.
The authority is also expected to invite applications to help prepare sites which otherwise would require too much work to be economically viable for companies to redevelop.
A report, set to be discussed by WYCA’s place panel, stated:
“A call for projects is proposed to take place commencing in February/March 2021 to identify brownfield projects (wider than those included on the pipeline already identified as suitable for BHF) that demonstrate market failure and require investment to unlock delivery.
“Projects received will be sifted on the basis of meeting the core objectives of the fund as set out by MHCLG, strategic fit with the regional Strategic Economic Framework (e.g. zero carbon, supporting inclusive growth) and potential financial return. The fund will be operated on a loan first basis, similar to other programmes, with assessment of all funding routes required to be explore through an open book assurance process with partners bringing sites forward for the call.”
Sites which have already been listed for redevelopment were listed in the authority’s Strategic Sites Pipeline document, which includes a possible 8,686 homes overall. Those are:
Leeds City Village – Marsh Lane and Shannon Street – 1,200 (potential homes)
Leeds Climate Innovation District – 506
Leeds Crosspoint – Hunslet Road – 928
Leeds Doncasters Monk Bridge – 463
Leeds Kirkstall Forge – 700
Leeds Richmond Street Private Brownfield No Yes Yes 350
Leeds City Reach (Kirkstall Road and off Wellington Road) – 1,000
Leeds Mount St Marys – 175
Leeds Copperfields – 170
Leeds Armouries Drive – 114
Leeds York Road/Selby Road – 100
Leeds Bridgewater Road North – 550
Leeds Lincoln Green/Mabgate – 150
Leeds Holbeck – 750
Leeds Globe Road – 750
Leeds Temple Quarter – 780.