Agreement on key principles for housing growth in city

It is hoped that the talks can help shape future long term housing growth in Leeds.

The eight principles, covering issues like housing targets, affordability and brownfield development were agreed as part of an informal council consultation which took place over the summer.

Business leaders, including housebuilders, housing associations and architects initially met separately from the community representatives before the groups came together to agree the principles.

They include setting realistic, phased targets for the delivery of new housing and ensuring new homes reflect local needs, enhance the neighbourhoods and improve the quality of life.

Other ideas include a commitment to help push forward the development and regeneration of brownfield sites and to work with the business community to explore a range of funding opportunities for new affordable homes.

The consultation was undertaken to assess the potential for consensus on housing growth.

The council is now planning a series of pilot studies in different parts of Leeds to explore how the principles can work in practice.

Coun Richard Lewis, the council’s executive member for city development, said yesterday: “This consultation brought together people with very varying backgrounds and interests who too often find themselves in opposing camps where housing development is concerned.

“The fact that they were able to agree on these basic principles is very encouraging and will be extremely helpful as we prepare our long term housing growth strategy. We know that we have to build more homes but we need to do that in a way that is sustainable and benefits the community as a whole.

“We hope that the government’s planning reforms will allow us to build on this collaborative approach,” Coun Lewis added last night.

The principles are on the council’s website: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/Environment_and_planning/Planning/Planning_policy/Housing_growth_in_Leeds.aspx and feedback will be reported to the council’s executive board next month.