Developers admit planning breaches in construction of Leeds retirement flats

Parkour Properties is in the process of building eight retirement flats on the site of a derelict old care home, on Harper Lane in Yeadon, which has been demolished.

Neighbours have complained about several issues since construction started earlier this year, including work taking place outside of permitted hours and vehicles being parked on the highway.

A director for the developers admitted breaches had occurred, but said many of the issues had been resolved and that they were “trying to improve the area”.

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “We are actively monitoring this site to ensure developers comply with the approved plans and conditions.

“We last visited the site on Monday August 9 and were assured that identified breaches would be rectified.

“We will continue to monitor the site and formal action will be taken if there is a clear breach that is harmful and not rectified quickly.”

In response, Glenn Stevenson, director at Parkour Properties, said: “There has been the odd breach, nobody’s perfect. But we’re trying to improve the area.

“The care home had been boarded up for a number of years. It was an absolute eyesore and in a right state. It needed demolishing.

“What we’re building has probably added value to every one of the homes in the area.”

An email to residents from a council officer, seen by the LDRS, suggested an additional storey of concrete blocks had been put onto the development, taking it beyond its permitted height.

Mr Stevenson said that had been the result of “human error” and had now been removed.

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He also said that a crane had been on site outside of the permitted hours on two occasions, but that workmen were not operating on the site beyond when they should.

He said: “Some of the bricklayers do come to the site early, because they’re coming down from Windermere. But they’re not working at that point.

“There have been vehicles parked on the highway when deliveries have been coming onto the site.

“Now more space has been cleared on site, everything’s parked on the site now.”

Mr Stevenson also said he’d agreed to meet local residents to discuss their concerns in the near future.