Leeds to bid for £85m of funding for new homes
0Leeds City Council is planning to bid for around £85m of funding form the government’s Housing and Infrastructure Fund (HIF) to invest in the city centre to help with its plan to deliver around 10,00 new homes.
The report will be voted on by the council’s executive board on 13 February.
Work on new infrastructure could begin before the end of this year, with the council looking to develop the new homes by 2033.
The council’s report on its bid to the HIF said that there was the potential for even more new housing: “There are currently around 25,000 residents in the city centre, largely in the private rented sector, but there is capacity for up to 20,000 new homes, significant resident population growth and an opportunity to ensure greater diversity of tenure.
“It is one of the most sustainable locations for new housing, close to jobs and major transport connections and providing for the reuse of previously developed land at a higher density than is achievable in less central locations.”
Cllr Richard Lewis, executive member for regeneration, transport and planning said: “We know more and more people are now wanting to live in city centres having all key amenities within easy reach.
“This investment would allow us to deliver even more positive growth in the city centre, with a vibrant mixed community and new facilities for everybody to benefit from.”
The council has an ambitious overall target of constructing around 52,000 new homes by 2033 as part of its proposed Leeds Core Strategy Review.
Recent housing delivery, though, has fallen short with an average of 395 homes being built each year over the last ten years, in spite of planning approvals for around 8,000 homes in the city centre.
The council report cites the major obstacle to progress as the lack infrastructure, and especially transport links, leading to a failure to attract sufficient residents to make the developments viable.
