Project to make Leeds suburb 'cleaner, greener and healthier' hits major milestone
100-home milestone reached for Heart of Holbeck scheme
A major improvement scheme in Holbeck has seen 100 homes fitted with new energy-efficient upgrades.
The works, part of broader efforts to rejuvenate the suburb into a healthier and more interconnected place to live, intends to complete upgrades in 150 homes allowing them to be easier to heat at a lower cost for residents.
The £15.9 million programme is the first to be delivered through the Heart of Holbeck plan, which began earlier this year.
To mark the milestone, Coun Asghar Khan (Labour, Burmantofts and Richmond Hill), Leeds City Council’s executive member for Housing and Hubs, joined representatives from project partners in Holbeck to see the improvements firsthand.
Deputy Leader of Leeds City Council Mary Harland (Labour, Kippax and Methley) said: “The housing upgrades are a great example of how the programme will make Holbeck a cleaner, greener and, perhaps most importantly, healthier place to live.”
“This is an area that has had challenges over the years, but – with the help of partners – we are confident we can bring about positive and lasting change.”
Holbeck was one of Leeds’s industrial powerhouses for much of the 19th century, a period when many back-to-back homes were built to cater for the rapidly expanding local population.
The effects of the decline of heavy industry during the 20th century are still being felt in the area today, with around 75% of children living in low-income families.
Elissa Newman, Chief Officer of Holbeck Together, added: “One of the most exciting things at the moment is that the wider Heart of Holbeck programme is beginning to move from plans and conversations into visible change.
“The next stage submission for redevelopment of St Matthew’s, if successful, will further transform our ability as a community anchor to support the local community with their ever-changing and increasing needs.”
Works are set to be finished by Spring in 2028, aiming to reduce deprivation in the area and refresh the overall look of Holbeck for prospective residents.