Plans to sell off a number of council-owned buildings will be discussed by Leeds City Council’s executive board today (Wednesday, October 21), with one of the proposed sites up for sale being East Lodge in the Temple Newsam Estate.

Conservative councillors say local interest groups, such as the Friends of Temple Newsam Park, have not been consulted on the plans, and say they will request a delay on such a sale.

An announcement from the Leeds City Council Conservatives said they would call for the authority to consult and reconsider all of the options for the historic property’s future, including renovation.

It follows the news that a report, set to go before council decision-makers next week, lists seven council-owned sites expected to go up for auction in the coming months, in an attempt to help plug the council’s £119m budget gap for the coming year.

But campaigners claim the Grade II listed East Lodge is an “integral part” of the Temple Newsam Estate, as it was sold to the City of Leeds in 1922 for the purpose of a public park.

According to council documents, the East Lodge, as well as Otley Civic Centre, land at Hill Crest in Swillington and Lea Farm Road in Kirkstall, will all be put up for sale by auction imminently.

Liz Hayes, a former chairwoman of the Friends of Temple Newsam Park, has written to fellow residents. She criticises the council’s plans to spend £4.5m on renovation work on other parts of the Temple Newsam estate.

Her letter reads: “Their announcement has supposedly been forced by the understandable financial pressures caused by COVID-19, coming alongside more than 600 council-wide job losses in coming months.”

“However, last month councillors still agreed borrowing over £4.5m to spend on non-essential projects at Temple Newsam despite the pressures? Their decision is by choice, not necessity.

“Please support our call for them to delay their decision and reconsider the future for East Lodge. Both East and West Lodges are an integral part of the Temple Newsam Estate sold to the City of Leeds in 1922 for the purpose of a public park.”

Leeds City Council’s executive board is set to meet to discuss the plans today (Wednesday, October 21).

Opposition councillors against sale of 'historic' building in Temple Newsam estate