Construction begins on new Leeds development with 67 canal side homes
“This is a site that has stood vacant for decades, so we're proud to be bringing it back into use and giving it a new future”
Construction has begun on a waterside housing development in west Leeds.
Canal Walk will bring the long-vacant former Airedale Mills site in Rodley back into use for the first time in decades.
The development is a collection of 67 homes set alongside Rodley Nature Reserve and overlooking the Leeds Liverpool Canal and River Aire. It will consist of a mix of apartments and two, three and four bedroom homes.
The first homes are expected to be completed in 2027, with the overall development scheduled for completion in 2028.
The scheme, which received outline planning permission in 2019 and detailed approval in 2023, will transform a prominent brownfield site that has remained unused since the late 1970s.
Once complete, residents will benefit from canal-side walks, traffic-free cycling routes and a range of nearby cafés, traditional pubs and local amenities.
Throughout the planning process, developer Rodley Homes has worked closely with Leeds City Council and the Canal & River Trust to ensure the scheme responds sensitively to its surroundings while enhancing access and connectivity for residents and the wider community.
As part of the project, a new swing bridge has been delivered to provide access via Moss Bridge Road.
Designed by specialist engineers in accordance with the requirements of Leeds City Council, Yorkshire Water and the Canal & River Trust, and fully funded by Rodley Homes, the bridge will improve access across the canal for residents, visitors and the wider area.
Kim Linell, sales director at Rodley Homes, said: "After years of planning, it's fantastic to see construction begin at Canal Walk. This is a site that has stood vacant for decades, so we're proud to be bringing it back into use and giving it a new future.
"Rodley is a fantastic place to live, and Canal Walk is ideally positioned to make the most of its surroundings. With the canal, nature reserve and a range of local pubs and cafés nearby, it offers a relaxed village feel while still being just a short journey from Leeds city centre. We're looking forward to seeing the development take shape and welcoming the first residents in the years ahead."