Solaris seeks boost for rebranded Leeds city gateway scheme
The development delivery firm has submitted plans to add a further 30 apartments to its rebranded Wellington Works development, taking the city centre scheme to 416 homes.
Formerly known as Castleton Works, the development is being delivered by Solaris on behalf of UCR Leeds, with Falconer Chester Hall as architect.
The vacant site occupies a prominent location off Leeds’ Inner Ring Road, at the junction with Armley Road.
As well as increasing the number of homes to 416, the latest proposals include enhanced amenity space, which is likely to include a residents’ lounge, co-working space, gym and wellness provision, private dining/event space, improved reception and concierge areas, secure cycle storage, parcel facilities, landscaped exteriors, a roof terrace, and outdoor seating, as Solaris continues to refine the scheme.
Affordable housing is pitched at 10 units, or 2.4%, which falls short of the current policy requirement for this location but is an increase on the previously agreed 0%, which was rubber stamped due to viability concerns validated by the district valuer.
The latest application marks the second time Solaris has applied to increase the scale of the project. In 2024, the developer worked with architect Woods Bagot to secure consent to increase the scheme from an original 306 apartments to 386 homes.
Planning permission for the initial 306-home development was granted in 2023 to Leedsgate Ltd, with Johnson Mowat advising on planning and Den Architecture preparing the designs.
The planning submission comes as the developer prepares to launch apartment sales in the fourth quarter of this year, signalling the project’s transition from planning into the delivery phase.
Solaris is also exploring funding opportunities through the recently launched West Yorkshire Housing Investment Fund, which aims to unlock major development sites, bring forward stalled projects and accelerate the delivery of up to 4,000 homes across the region. The developer hopes the scheme could benefit from support through the initiative.
Josh McGuinnes, director of Solaris, said: “We are pleased with the progress being made on Wellington Works. The scheme already has planning permission and we are now seeking to improve the consent further, which will allow us to deliver more much-needed homes in Leeds while significantly increasing the amenity offering for residents.
“We are preparing to launch apartment sales later this year, which is an important milestone for the project. Alongside that, we are continuing to work closely with public sector partners in relation to the intervention required to unlock delivery.
“Following the launch of the West Yorkshire Housing Investment Fund, there is a real opportunity for WYCA to replicate some of the successful work undertaken by GMCA in Greater Manchester.
“That link is particularly relevant given Andy Burnham’s track record as Mayor of Greater Manchester and his expected move into Downing Street.
“Wellington Works is consented, well advanced and deliverable, and public intervention will be the catalyst that allows these much-needed new homes to come forward.”
