Leeds committee to mull 800 homes
Proposals from Vastint UK, Countrylarge and UCR Leeds head to the council’s city plans panel this week tipped for approval.
A reserved matters application for plots R2 and R3 within Vastint’s Aire Park masterplan – which was given outline consent in 2018 – calls for three blocks within the R2 plot, topping out at eight, nine and 11 storeys.
Plot R3, which now includes the R4 plot from the original plan, is at the north eastern part of the former Tetley brewing site, and would comprise four blocks, from six to 15 storeys.
In all, reserved matters approval is sought for 418 homes. The site is around 2.5 acres and faces onto Crown Point Road to the east and Bowman Lane to the north.
The Section 106 contributions outlined include 5% affordable housing inline with policy for the area, and contributions for cycle paths and the Sovereign footbridge. The breakdown of flats is 182 one-beds, 177 two-beds and 59 three-beds.
Cartwright Pickard is the architect.
At 58-60 Vicar Lane, Countrylarge ( Wrays) wants to remove one of the five retail units on the ground floor (the other four are occupeid and trading) to make space for a residents’ entrance lobby.
Countrylarge also wants to add a four-storey rear extension in a project that will see 16 rental apartments developed at the grade two-listed complex, close to the Victoria Gate shopping centre.
The plans, designed by Corstorphine & Wright, came forward in early 2024. Bluebell, Café Nero, Subway and Futon Company are the retail occupiers.
Leeds Civic Trust expressed support for bringing redundant floors back into use, but expressed concern over the removal of some features.
The city plans panel will also consider build-to-rent proposals lodged in August by development manager Solaris for UCR Leeds, a project designed by big ticket architect Woods Bagot for the plot at the junction of Wellington Road and Armley Road.
The site has an extant consent for 306 homes, but plans have been reworked to sweat the asset, with 386 flats now the goal. Three main blocks remain the intention, topping out at 18 storeys.
The plans remain as a three-block proposal. Credit: planning documents
Block A would provide 33 one-bedroom apartments, 30 two-bedroom apartments and three three-beds, clocking in at nine floors.
Block B would house 95 one-beds, 34 two-beds and 30 three-beds, reaching 18 storeys. The 14-floor Block C would have 71 one-beds, 75 two-beds and 13 three-beds.
With all three projects, the recommendation of planning officers is that decisions are deferred and delegated to the chief planning officer to approve, pending Section 106 agreements being finalised.
Planning portal references: Aire Park 23/04107/RM, Wray’s Building 23.07270/FU, Wellington Road 23/04241/FU.
