Wates Construction has started work on a new £40m affordable housing scheme in Middleton, Leeds
The affordable housing scheme is part of Leeds City Councils‘ House Growth Programme (CHGP) and will see the regeneration of Throstle Recreation Ground and the former Middleton Skills Centre.
Six acres of land will be regenerated to create 60 two-bed, 38 three-bed, two four-bed properties and four bungalows to different needs.
It will also include an extra care housing facility for older people requiring care and onsite support, with 47 one-bed and 13 two-bed apartments designed to be wheelchair accessible. And an additional 12 one-bed bungalows will be built specifically for adults of working age with disabilities.
Climate emergency
The properties will be provided with energy-efficient heating and hot water through an underground district heating system, as well as off-street parking and electric vehicle charging points.
Five acres of the site will be kept as green space for the community and will feature natural play areas, space for dog walking, landscaping and sustainable drainage.
“Lasting impact on the local economy”
David Wingfield, Regional Director North East, Wates Construction, said: “We have an excellent relationship with Leeds City Council and look forward to working with
them.
“We fully recognise how important housing growth schemes like this are to the council’s future ambitions and we’re proud to play our part in the delivery of this affordable housing project, which will not only benefit the local economy and provide new green spaces for the community, but by accessing a network of local SME’s, this scheme will have a lasting impact on the local economy from the very outset.
“Wates Construction has a long history of working on vital housing projects in Yorkshire – we’re currently delivering similar schemes for City of York Council and have recently completed developments further south in Doncaster and Rotherham. This experience of delivering such builds, often in residential areas and with phased handovers, was key to our appointment.”
“Council’s largest affordable housing projects”
75% of the project funding will be allocated within 40 miles of Leeds and 85% will be spent with SMEs.
Councillor Helen Hayden, executive member for infrastructure and climate, Leeds City Council, said:
“I am thrilled to see that work has now started on site to create one of the council’s largest affordable housing projects. Not only will it contribute positively towards our ambition of building more affordable housing in the city, but the new energy-efficient homes and electric vehicle charging points will also help in our efforts against the climate emergency.
“We know green space is important, especially in this area, and that is why a clear focus of this development is to invest in high-quality green space for people of all ages to benefit from and we will continue to work with residents in the surrounding areas to minimise disruption as much as possible. I look forward to seeing this exciting project develop over the coming months.”
Construction started in July and is expected to be completed by mid-summer 2023.
