Plans submitted for 25 affordable homes

Leeds City Council Computer-generated image of a proposed two-storey apartment development at Richmond Road in Farsley, showing landscaped gardens, trees, paths and communal outdoor space.Leeds City Council
The development would provide 25 one and two-bedroom apartments for people on Leeds' housing register

Plans for 25 affordable apartments on the site of a former care home in Leeds have been submitted for approval.

Leeds City Council said it wanted to build the one and two-bedroom homes on Richmond Road, Farsley, with all the properties available for affordable rent through its housing register.

Council figures show there is a shortage of affordable housing in Farsley, particularly one and two-bedroom homes.

Councillor Peter Carlill said the scheme, on the former Richmond House care home site, would give people "more opportunities to access affordable housing within their own communities, close to their families, friends and support networks and in the places they already call home".

If approved, the scheme would be part of the council's Housing Growth Programme, which it said had so far delivered hundreds of homes across Leeds.

'Exceed national standards'

Carlill, the council's executive member for transport and planning, said: "I therefore welcome the submission of a planning application for the proposed scheme, which would help address local affordable housing needs."

The council said that, if approved, the apartments would "exceed national standards on space and accessibility" and include "energy-efficient features such as high-specification insulation and double glazing".

The development would also include landscaping, a private garden for residents, cycle storage and parking spaces equipped with electric vehicle charging points.

The original plans for 33 apartments in a building of up to three storeys prompted concerns from local residents during a consultation last year, leading to the proposals being revised.

The council said the number of homes had since been reduced to 25, the height of the building lowered and its appearance redesigned to better reflect neighbouring properties.

Leeds City Council's planning department is set to consider the application at a date yet to be set.

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