COUNCIL officials in Leeds are to submit new plans to the Government in a bid to keep a £1 billion regeneration project on track.
As revealed in the
Yorkshire Evening Post, the East and South East Leeds (Easel) project to build 5,000 new homes and create 2,000 jobs in some of the city's most deprived neighbourhoods is threatened by the credit crunch and economic downt
urn.
Work is under way on two sites to be developed as part of Easel in South Parkway, Seacroft, and Oak Tree Drive, Gipton.
See what's in store for us with our video weather forecast Coun Les Carter, executive member for housing and neighbourhoods, said: "We have met with Government officials and it has been agreed
we will submit plans early in the New Year on how best to keep people on site and keep work going.This is a housing-led regeneration scheme and the credit crunch and falling house prices have clearly had an effect.
"While we have acknowledged there will be delays in the current climate, we will not be walking away from this.
"It should be remembered this is a project covering 20 years or so.
"There may be a slowdown, but we do not want the thing to come to a halt altogether.
We want to be in a position where the work on Easel can easily be stepped up when the economy improves and development becomes more attractive.
"This is a very important scheme for the people of east and south east Leeds and we are determined to do all we can to keep it on course."
Comment