Exclusive:Leeds South Bank new town facing 'critical' airport noise, analysis finds
Leeds South Bank, one of the Government's flagship “new towns”, faces the most severe aircraft noise of all 12 proposed sites, according to analysis.
The proposed development, of the former industrial area south of the Aire, has received a “critical flight blight rating” from My Flight Path, due to being on the route of Leeds Bradford Airport.
The analysis found that residents are expected to experience aircraft at 85 dBA (A-weighted decibel), or the equivalent to standing beside a leaf blower.
This comes as Leeds South Bank was named by the Government as one of three new towns it would start ahead of the next election.
Regeneration of the area in Holbeck and Hunslet, including the old Tetley’s brewery, has been a priority for Leeds City Council for more than a decade.
The council wants to effectively expand the city centre into South Bank, and work has already begun on hundreds of flats.
One designation as being part of Labour’s new towns programme is that 40 per cent of the homes will have to be affordable.
But analysis by My Flight Path has found this is set to have the loudest aircraft noise of any of the Government’s 12 new town sites.
Jono Oates, co-founder of My Flight Path, said: "Leeds South Bank's location makes it the worst affected of all new towns sites.
“At 85 dBA, outdoor conversation becomes difficult, children's learning is impaired, and sleep disruption is virtually guaranteed during flight operations.
"While planners focus on transport links, schools, and ground infrastructure, aircraft noise exposure has received minimal attention in public consultations or environmental assessments.
"This isn't about stopping development – it's about being honest with Leeds residents about what they'll face.
“Anyone buying a home at Leeds South Bank deserves to know they're looking at daily aircraft noise equivalent to a leaf blower."
It comes with Leeds Bradford Airport in the process of completing an £100m transformation of the terminal building.
Aena, a world-leading airport operator partially owned by the Spanish government, recently bought LBA as part of a £270m deal.
The airport was used by 4.24 million passengers in 2024, up by 5.8 per cent on 2023.
The number of flights from LBA increased by 6.2 per cent, with an average 87 per day via the airport. It is hoping to expand this further in coming years.
Government ministers are modelling the construction and planning effort behind each new town on the regeneration of Stratford, east London, before and after the 2012 Olympic games.
The Olympic park, and the surrounding housing, was overseen by a development corporation, a body with sweeping powers which allowed it to compulsorily purchase land and grant planning permission.
This is also close to London City Airport, in the east of the capital.