Two of the most deprived communities in Leeds are to benefit from a £5m regeneration project aimed at improving homes and the environment.
At a meeting of Leeds City Council’s executive board, one senior councillor described Cross Green as one of the most “depressed and depressing” areas of the city.
Councillors were told more than 45 per cent of residents receive some form of benefits. Senior members voted in favour of investing £5m in a programme of works in Cross Green and the Nevilles over the next three years.
The projects will include improvements to the environmental performance of both private and council houses, designed to help people with affordable heating and improve the longer term health of residents.
Work on homes will be accompanied by upgrades to roads and open spaces and a community fund for small scale environmental and energy efficiency projects.
Coun Richard Lewis (Pudsey/Labour), told the meeting: “The Cross Green area strikes me as one of the most depressed and depressing areas of the city. My overall feeling about Cross Green is that we have all done a lot of initiatives over the years and we really need to do something comprehensive in this area.”
Leeds City Council leader Coun Keith Wakefield said: “I think it is time that we said on behalf of this administration that we have confidence in this place and we are trying to turn it around and we should welcome this. The evidence is overwhelming in terms of social deprivation and need.”
Coun Mark Dobson, Leeds City Council’s executive board member for the environment, said: “This regeneration project will focus intensively on these neighbourhoods to bring about significant improvements that benefit the local communities.
“We are committed to ensuring that these neighbourhoods receive the improvements needed to make them sustainable.” Click here to register and have your say on the stories and issues that matter to you
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