United Living has begun construction on a vacant brownfield site in Leeds, Holbeck, to deliver eco-friendly affordable homes
The development will comprise 14 one bedroomed apartments, ten two-bedroomed houses and six three-bedroomed homes.
The 100% affordable homes will be built using timber frames and constructed in less than nine months. 
Offsite timber
The frames will be made offsite before being transported to the development for assembly. The innovative process uses the same materials, standards and codes as traditionally built homes but is much more efficient.
They will be constructed using a ‘Fabric first’ approach which will help lower fuel bills and tackle fuel poverty.
Net-zero Leeds
The eco-friendly scheme will also support Leeds City council’s commitment to reduce the city’s direct carbon emissions to net-zero by 2030.
The project is being delivered through Leeds City Council’s Housing Growth Programme (CHGP), which aims to build around 1500 new, high-quality social housing units over the next five years.
‘Much-needed new homes for local people’
Mick Holling, managing director with United Living New Homes North, said: “Leeds is a thriving and growing city which needs new, good quality housing to meet demand.
“We look forward to playing a central role in regenerating this area of Leeds and creating much-needed new homes for local people.
“The timber frame sector is transforming the way new homes are built. It offers a comprehensive, energy-efficient and low carbon solution for social housing that is high-quality, affordable and easily accessible and adaptable”.
‘Energy efficient, low carbon homes’
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Infrastructure and Climate, said: “One of Leeds’ biggest priorities is to provide enough housing to meet the needs of a growing population.
“This is why we have developed our programme to build 1,500 new affordable homes over the next 5 years; all of which need to be high quality and accessible.
“Not only will this scheme positively contribute towards this ambition, it will also help us achieve our climate targets by providing people with energy efficient, low carbon homes.
“I look forward to following the progress of this scheme and welcoming our first residents later this year.”
