Leeds City Council is planning to build 66,000 new homes
Leeds City Council has disclosed locations of 66,000 new houses it is planning to build by 2028 as it bids to meet growing demand and tackle the city’s housing shortage.
All areas of Leeds will be targeted for new developments, with at least 3% of the total new homes to be built in each of 11 areas, and on 763 individual sites. 34% of the total new constructs would be in inner city areas and the city centre.
Areas like Armley, Beeston, Belle Isle, Gipton, Harehills, Hyde Park, Hunslet and Seacroft would all get major housing boosts. More than six in every 10 of the new homes are earmarked for brownfield land, previously developed sites which may have been dormant for years.
The Table shows area-wise bifurcation of 66,000 houses
| Area | Localities | Number of Houses | Percentage |
| Aireborough | Guiseley, Rawdon, Yeadon | 2,364 | 4 |
| City Centre | 11,303 | 17 | |
| East Leeds | Crossgates/Whinmoor, Swarcliffe, Cross Green, Colton | 10,034 | 15 |
| Inner Area | Gipton/Harehills, Armley, Beeston Hill, Belle Isle, Hyde Park/Woodhouse, Hunslet, Seacroft | 11,500 | 17 |
| North Leeds | Headingley, Horsforth, Cookridge, Kirkstall, Adel, Alwoodley, Roundhay, Chapel Allerton | 5,960 | 9 |
| Outer North East | Scarcroft, Wetherby, Harewood, Thorner, Barwick in Elmet, Boston Spa, Bardsey, Collingham, Bramham | 4,943 | 7 |
| Outer North West | Bramhope, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Otley | 1,800 | 3 |
| Outer South | Rothwell, Oulton, Mickletown | 2,465 | 4 |
| Outer South East | Kippax, Garforth, Allerton Bywater | 4,045 | 6 |
| Outer South West | Morley, Middleton, Beeston, Drighlington | 6,875 | 10 |
| Outer West | Pudsey, Farsley, Calverley, Rodley, Bramley | 4,723 | 7 |
| 66,012 | 100 |
Other long-term developments in the City and benefits for investors
This year will be the start of the new era of the development and economic prosperity in Leeds City. Leeds will be gradually upgraded to be included in five big cities of the UK. The development would attract professionals and visitors in the city. Therefore, there are a lot of investment opportunities in Leeds that would start paying back in near future.
Apart from the house build, overall development is taking place or “in the pipeline” across the Leeds City Region amounts to £2.5 billion. It was announced last week that work on the first phase of Victoria Gate, which will occupy land at Union Street currently used as a car park and the Millgarth police station, will start on April 7. The new figures also include the Trinity Leeds shopping centre, which opened last year, built at a cost of around £380m. Developers are hoping the three developments will usher in a new era of prosperity for Leeds.
What is Brownfield Land
Brownfield site (or simply a brownfield) is land previously used for industrial purposes or some commercial uses. The land may be contaminated by low concentrations of hazardous waste or pollution, and has the potential to be reused once it is cleaned up. Once cleaned up, such an area can become host to a business development such as a retail park.
Land that is more severely contaminated and has high concentrations of hazardous waste or pollution does not fall under the brownfield classification