Scheme to develop a new community in the Aire Valley would create 500 jobs

The 170-acre site, known as Skelton Gate, is situated to the east of junction 45 of the M1 and sits within the Leeds Aire Valley. Templegate Developments, a joint venture partnership between Evans Property Group and Keyland Developments is behind the plans, which are being considered by Leeds City Council.

The proposals include 1,100 new homes, which aims to address the council’s housing requirement of at least 6,500 new homes within the Aire Valley by 2028. Skelton Gate is already identified as a proposed housing allocation within the draft Aire Valley Area Action Plan.

In addition to the creation of new family and affordable homes, the plan provides supporting community benefits including a new school, a foodstore and local centre.

New areas of landscaped open green public space are set to be created, while existing woodland belts will be retained and enhanced.

The proposal includes improvements to the surrounding road network along with new pedestrian and cycle links to address sustainable accessibility to and around the site.

The development would create more than 500 construction and operational jobs. Peter Garrett, managing director of Keyland Developments, said: “This strategic site has the capacity to make a significant and much-needed contribution to Leeds City Council’s housing requirement for the Aire Valley area of Leeds by bringing a vacant site back into use as a new community.

“In addition to delivering a thousand new homes and a new school with associated community benefits, the development would bring in excess of 500 construction and operational jobs.”

James Pitt, development director at Evans Property Group, said; “Major investment into the Enterprise Zone is already transforming the lower Aire Valley.”