‘New lease of life’ planned for site of Horsforth’s old toilets

The site in Horsforth, which lies down a ginnel off Town Street, has effectively become a wasteland in recent years and is overgrown with shrubs and weeds.

The toilets were demolished back in 2004 and the land is now frequently used by litter louts taking advantage of the site’s discreet location to dump unwanted items without having to pay for proper disposal.

Now a planning application to build a single storey storage unit on the site has been submitted to Leeds City Council, offering the prospect of clearing up what has become an eyesore area and bringing it back into use.

Representatives of the applicant, Jonathan Bush, wrote that the intention of the plans was to “refurbish and revitalise the neglected part of land which once was home to public toilets”.

In documents submitted to the council, they explained the proposal was to develop a single-storey, pitched roof storage building which sits on top of the old footprint for the public toilets which were once there.

They said: “The site attracts many unwanted visitors and fly-tippers. The development would enhance the site to give a new lease of life.

“The site would be gated by a new 1.5m high timber fence to deter the unwanted visitors.”

Comments can be submitted by the public via the council’s online portal until Friday August 26 after which planning officials will decide whether or not to approve the application.