New town plans a 'vote of confidence' in Leeds as readers raise infrastructure concerns

Under a massive government housebuilding scheme, the “once in a generation” project has been earmarked for the South Bank area to the south of the River Aire.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has said that it will feature neighbourhoods that people can easily get around without a car, shared green spaces and vibrant high streets.

It will be separate from the Aire Park development scheme that has been in progress for the last two years.

The city council has labelled the announcement as a “vote of confidence” in the city, while Yorkshire Evening Post readers have had their say on potential issues with infrastructure and housing.

‘Exciting times’

Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Jonathan Pryor, said: “These are exciting times for Leeds and the Government’s recent announcement that the South Bank is progressing as part of the New Towns programme should be seen as a vote of confidence in the city and the impressive progress we have made – and will continue to make in the short, medium and long term – in areas such as housing delivery, inclusive growth and transport infrastructure.

“Across our city centre, there is potential for the delivery of much-needed new homes, along with nearly two million square metres of commercial space.

“We are committed to working with the Government and its agencies to ensure the New Towns programme can play its role – as part of our wider toolkit – in the realising of that potential.

“The future growth of the city centre will be supported by improvements to transport infrastructure, including the ongoing transformation of Leeds City Station’s main entrance and West Yorkshire’s proposed mass transit scheme.

“Plans for the South Bank’s use of the New Town tools are still at an early stage. There is real scope, though, for a New Town to deliver homes, jobs and wider opportunities in the near term, and we are excited by the prospect of working with the Government and partners to take the plans forward in a way that supports our joint ambitions for growth and regeneration.”

Infrastructure

Readers have also had their say on the exciting plans, with a number of people questioning whether there is adequate room hospitals, schools and other local amenities.

David Middleton said: “So long as the promised infrastructure is built upfront, this will be great news for the city.”

He said he hoped it would lead to “less need to steal greenbelt land outside the city”, “more footfall and therefore incentive for business in the city centre”, as well as the delivery of a new mass transit system “which has been promised for decades”.

He finished: “This can only be a positive move for Leeds.”

‘Communities can’t manage now’

Chris Johns said: “Going to have any meaningful infrastructure for those 20,000 homes?”

Another reader said: “Will it have a school? Doctors? Hospital? Without these don't bother. Communities can't manage now.”

One person commented: “Extra 20k homes but will there also be more GPs surgeries dentists even hospital spaces to cover the extra 40k plus in population or will it just add to the waiting lists even longer?”

‘Fantastic news!’

Others simply welcomed the news, with James Greenwood saying: “Fantastic news!”

The Leeds South Bank new town is part of what the government is describing as the most ambitious housebuilding programme in more than half a century. It will capitalise on the city’s economic momentum and the government’s £2.1 billion local transport investment.

Six other new towns are set to be built across the country, with between 10,000 and 40,000 homes being planned in each location.

The name Leeds South Bank is currently provisional and no firm decision has been made on what it will ultimately be called. Expect further updates in due course.

A public consultation on proposed locations and draft planning policy is open until Monday, May 18 and will be published shortly.

Final locations will be confirmed later this year after the consultation and Strategic Environmental Assessment and any further required environmental assessment.

It will be separate from the Aire Park development scheme that has been in progress over recent years.