Plans for 59 homes on the site of a demolished school will come back before Leeds planners next week – five months after developers raised concerns about escalating costs.
Keepmoat Homes wants to build 59 homes on the former Wortley High School site, with access from Swallow Crescent.
The development was due to be considered at last December’s South and West Plans Panel, but was withdrawn by developers shortly before the meeting due to concerns about the amount of affordable housing on the site and the cost of section 106 community contributions linked to planning permission.
Following negotiations, Keepmoat have agreed to eight affordable housing units on the site, instead of the initial nine.
The council has said the developer will also need to meet section 106 community contributions including £10,000 to install a new ‘live’ bus information display, a commuted green space sum of £197,421, a residential travel fund of £30,195 and a further contribution to a local traffic regulation order
As reported by WLD last July, nearby householders have raised concerns about access to the new development, claiming Swallow Crescent already has problems with parking.
In addition to more than 20 objections, Councillors Ann and David Blackburn (Green, Farnley and Wortley) also raised concerns about the number of properties on the site.
A council planning officer’s report recommends the scheme be approved in principle, subject to conditions and the successful negotiation of Keepmoat’s financial contributions. The report concludes:
“The benefits of delivering new housing in this sustainable location are considered to outweigh any limited harm identified.”
Leeds City Council’s south and west plans panel meets next Thursday, May 30, at 1.30pm at Leeds Civic Hall. The planning officer’s report can be read in full here.
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