A multi-million pound plan to rebuild a children’s home for some of the country’s most dangerous youths is expected to get the go-ahead today. (Jan 31)
East Moor Secure Children’s Home in Adel, north Leeds, will be demolished and rebuilt on near-by land at the cost of £12.55m if the proposal is passed by members of the City Council’s Plans Panel West.
A proposal has been submitted to the Department for Education (DfE) to allow Leeds City Council to replace the secure unit. Existing buildings do not meet current standards set by education watchdog Ofsted and the Youth Justice Board.
The money needed to demolish the existing 36-bed unit and create a new 24-bed unit will be taken from a DfE capital grant.
Councillor Barry Anderson (Con, Adel and Wharfedale) said residents living at nearby Spring Hill will welcome the development as empty buildings have been attracting anti-social behaviour. But officers must address other issues such as traffic.
He said: “The issue that will concern the wider population of Adel is once this work is completed, what the future is for the rest of the site.
“The council need to get the development plan into the public domain so the debate can start.”
The children’s home, which houses some of the UK’s most notorious young law-breakers, aims to rehabilitate youths aged 10 to 17.
East Moor is located in woodland on the site of a former school and adjacent to several Grade II listed buildings.
On completion of the build the existing children’s centre will be demolished, grassed over and the land made available for housing. An existing all-weather playing pitch will be retained under the plans
Officers have proposed to plant 36 trees to screen the site, and replace those lost in the build.
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