Green light for travellers site near Leeds city centre

A TEMPORARY travellers site in Hunslet near Leeds city centre has been granted extended planning permission for a further ten years. despite objections from owners of a retail park.
Leeds Civic HallLeeds Civic Hall
Leeds Civic Hall

Members of Leeds City Council’s city plans panel approved ten-year temporary planning permission for eight pitches at the Kidacre Street site at a meeting held at Leeds Civic Hall.

Leeds City Council’s housing services department set up the temporary traveller site at Kidacre Street in May 2014 to cater for travellers who had been staying at roadside camps.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Members of the city plans panel granted the site temporary planning permission for three years in October 2014, despite objections from the nearby Crown Point Retail Park.

The council’s housing service department sought to further extended planning permission for the Kidacre Street site.

Crown Estate, which owns Crown Point Retail Park, had objected on the grounds that the traveller site could have a detrimental impact on potential investment in the local area.

However, city plans panel members unanimously backed the scheme. Coun Peter Green (Lab/Cross Gates and Whinmoor), said: “This is about housing for the travelling comminty, and they are an important part of the community.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I think it’s a good scheme, and it should get planning permission.

Plans panel chairman Coun James McKenna (Lab/Armley), said: “We spoke to resident and they said this was suited to their needs. They said It’s exactly where we want to be. We require more sites in this area if possible, not less.”