Leeds City Council launch a public consultation today asking the people of Leeds to help them pick the best sites for the development of new housing, retail employment and greenspace.
The population of Leeds is predicted to grow by 100,000 over the next 15 years, from its current level of 760,000 to 860,000 in 2028. The development plan looks at which sites around the city should be used to accommodate the extra people and make sure the infrastructure is there to support us all. The consultation also covers local greenspaces and this includes which areas you think should be protected.
Sites have been identified around the city and coded red, amber and green. There are more sites than will be needed. The planners have marked the sites they think are appropriate for development green and those they don’t think would be so good red. They are now asking us if we agree with those decisions.
There are a series of public drop in events around the city including one at Dewsbury Road One Stop Centre on Thursday 13th June from 3pm to 6:30pm. You can also look at the plans online at www.leeds.gov.uk/siteallocations. You can comment on line or in writing.
Councillor Peter Gruen, executive board member with responsibility for neighbourhoods, planning and support services said:
“Planning touches our everyday lives. The consultation will offer people the opportunity to better understand the challenges that the proposed scale of growth presents and allow them to get involved and influence the future plan.”
The plans contain a lot more sites for housing than employment. This is because there are currently a lot of unused existing industrial and office sites plus the Aire Valley Employment Zone (the triangle bounded by Cross Green, Belle Isle and the M1) which has already been allocated for employment.
Sites that are approved in this process will not necessarily be developed immediately, or even at a later date. Site allocation identifies a site where it would be appropriate to develop new housing. It’s then up to developers to come up with a scheme and apply for planning permission in the usual way for their specific scheme.
The online public consultation is absolutely inpenetrable. Thanks very much Leeds City Council. As clear as mud. Do you seriously expect me to print off hundreds of pages just for the one area I might be interested in? Appalling.