Leeds travellers' site could get ten-year extension

Members of Leeds City Council’s city plans panel are being recommended to approve ten-year temporary planning permission for eight pitches at the Kidacre Street site at a meeting today.

Leeds City Council’s housing services department set up the temporary traveller site at Kidacre Street in May 2014 to cater for travellers who had been staying at roadside camps.

Members of the city plans panel granted the site temporary planning permission for three years in October 2014, despite objections from the nearby Crown Point Retail Park.

Now the council’s housing service department is seeking to further extended planning permission for the Kidacre Street site.

A report to the city plans panel meeting states that Housing Leeds estimates it would cost £250,000 to build of eight blocks of toilets and washing facilities at the site.

Crown Estate, which owns Crown Point Retail Park, has objected, stating: “A permanent/semi-permanent gypsy and traveller site could have a detrimental impact on potential investment in the local area and the economic prosperity of the city and wider City Region. It is not a use that sits comfortably with the marketing of an internationally significant regeneration and investment opportunity in the South Bank.”

The report to the city plans panel concludes: “Kidacre Street is an existing site with temporary planning permission, located close to local shops and facilities.

“The Kidacre Street site is suitable, available and achievable to meet the needs of residents for the next ten years.”