A long-abandoned former factory site in Leeds could be turned into 50 new houses and a care home.
The land between Theaker Lane and Stanningley Road, Armley, which is currently walled off, was previously home to a tannery and a soft drinks factory. It has been unused for several decades.
Now developer Mansell Construction has put in an application to build 51 homes and a 64-bedroom care home on the site, and project bosses say it is designed to “respond to a housing need” in the area.
Nick Vaughan from Cordonier Vaughan, the architect’s firm which is designing the project, told a meeting of the Armley community forum: “It’s a piece of ground that’s been in need of action being taken on it.
“The site itself is overgrown and has remained vacant.
“We now have an opportunity to look at it in a positive way and provide a care home and affordable housing.
“We hope that it will be a positive thing for the community.”
He added: “We have looked at the proposals with specific guidance to develop and respond to a housing need.”
He said the eventual development would include a mix of two and three bedroom houses, as well as a 64-bedroom care home at the Theaker Lane part of the site.
An initial planning application has now been submitted to Leeds City Council.
There was broad approval for the scheme when the plans were presented to the Armley community forum this week.
Local Labour councillor Janet Harper said she was “delighted” there was a planning opportunity for the unused site.
However, there were traffic concerns from parents of children at a nearby school, who said the area around the site had been identified as “high risk” by highways chiefs.
They have been campaigning for a zebra crossing in Theaker Lane.
And former Leeds West MP John Battle said of the development of the derelict site: “I welcome it. We have been waiting for a long time. The school has campaigned for a crossing for many years on Theaker Lane. Please put a budget in your plan to make that happen.”
The new homes are to be operated by a housing association and offered at 80 per cent of the market rental rate.
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