100 per cent affordable home scheme by Leeds Jewish Housing Association approved

An application by the Leeds Jewish Housing Association to build 51 sheltered housing apartments for those aged 55 and over, as well as 34 “general needs” apartments, went before the authority’s north and east plans panel this week.

The meeting heard that 16 apartments and six houses on the site off Queenshill Avenue, Moortown, would be demolished to make way for two four storey apartment buildings, along with car parking space and garden amenities.

The plans attracted complaints from members of the public, many of whom claimed the four-storey building may block most of the sky view in nearby gardens, and cause a lack of privacy.

Speaking to the meeting, a nearby resident added: “As with most things in life there are positive and negative impacts of the outcomes, As neighbours we feel we bear the burnt of the negative impacts.”

He presented the board with an idea to move the development further away from nearby houses but confirmed he had not shared these plans with the housing association.

Jonathan Wingfield, speaking on behalf of the applicants told the panel: “We do appreciate the concerns of local residents.

“We would say the initial thoughts would not work. There would not be a way of moving block A closer to block B.

“We would urge members to support the application.”

A report by council officers stated: ” The provision of a scheme

that is 100 per cent affordable housing, in an economic climate that struggles to make such provision is considered to be a significant factor and, in this instance, is considered to be the factor that outweighs the harm that the loss of trees will result

in.”

Commenting on the application, Coun Dawn Collins (Con) said: “I do like this scheme, I would request that officers do consider whether they could rotate apartment block A slightly to move it away from nearby residents if possible.”

Coun Kevin Ritchie added: “We have some real benefits to this scheme – it is 100 percent affordable housing.

“The negatives are the impact on the neighbours, but it is policy compliant.”

The panel agreed to the application in principle and opted to delegate details of the scheme to planning officers.