Controversial proposals to redevelop the former Leeds Girls’ High School site in Headingley were yesterday (August 16) approved by councillors.
Leeds City Council’s Plans Panel West granted the Morley House Trust outline planning permission after the trust submitted proposals to create 94 homes on the main site.
Councillors also agreed to explore options to bring properties surrounding the site back into use as affordable family homes.
Pam Bone, chairman of the Leeds Girls’ High School Action Group, said: “The community want the green space to be retained and for facilities to be there which are open to the public.”
An original application to extend and convert the main school building into apartments and build other homes on the school grounds was rejected by the council.
A subsequent appeal against the refusal was dismissed by an inspector following a public inquiry held last July.
Morley House Trust drew up a revised scheme and reduced the number of homes proposed for the site from 117 to 94.
Coun Martin Hamilton (Lib Dem, Headingley) said: “The approval of this scheme gives some certainty about the future of this site, and it is better than the one dismissed by the inspector on appeal.
“It is still regrettable that the inspector’s decision meant that the council had no choice but to allow building on the tennis courts on the site – but at least the revised scheme provides a reasonable amount of green space.”
A separate set of plans have also been submitted to build houses and a convenience store on the school’s former playing fields and sports hall on Victoria Road, with campaigners forming an action group – Hyde Park Olympic Legacy – to fight the scheme.
The deadline for objections to the proposals is next Wednesday and the scheme is due to go before a Leeds City Council plans panel in either September or October.
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