Decade of pent up demand for new homes in Leeds city centre sees homebuyers flock to Holbeck Urban Village
Homebuyers have jumped at the chance to buy a new home at The Ironworks, one of very few new build schemes to come onto the market in Leeds city centre in the last decade.
Eleven one and two-bedroom homes have been reserved off-plan at the 68-property development since the summer launch, with design savvy, eco conscious, urban renters choosing to own their first home at the 2019 Housing Design Awards project winner, The Ironworks. The shortage of high-quality new homes in Leeds city centre, designed for owner-occupiers rather than for investors, is at last being met by The Ironworks. For the first time in a decade, prospective homeowners who want to put down roots can choose a new property in the creative community and growing neighbourhood of Holbeck Urban Village.
Located at David Street, off Water Lane and next to the Round Foundry Media Centre in the Leeds South Bank, this is a project created by PfP igloo, a partnership between PfP Capital and igloo Regeneration.
The Ironworks is a long-awaited addition to Leeds and its construction is taking place as the desire for sustainable homes, close to where people work, is growing. With the rising appeal of the ‘15-minute neighbourhood’ and working from home a feature of life that is predicted to stay for some, homebuyers are looking for flexibility, energy-efficiency and spaces that work. Located in the heart of historic Holbeck Urban Village, surrounded by some of Leeds’ most established independent cafes, pubs and restaurants, residents will live just a short walk from Leeds city centre; open plan living areas and larger than average windows and balconies are standard features of The Ironworks homes.
igloo’s commitment to development in Leeds dates back to 2003 when as the UK’s leading responsible real estate business the team began the transformation of Holbeck Urban Village. The area, steeped in history, is now a thriving, buzzing neighbourhood of independent cafes and bars, and home to the city’s fast growing and vibrant creative and digital businesses sector. Since then, the area has seen a boom in developments of apartments to rent. The Ironworks’ collection of townhouses, apartments and penthouses marks a significant shift towards creating a residential neighbourhood for a wide range of home-owners.
Honor Massarella, Development Director for igloo Regeneration said:
“Creating interesting, sustainable places where people want to live is what we’re known for around the UK and it’s fantastic to receive such a warm response to our first residential scheme in Leeds. Before the pandemic, , there was a shift towards well-being and living in the kind of properties and places igloo is known for. Now, more than ever, we’re all reassessing what we want from our homes and neighbourhoods and Holbeck Urban Village – known for its cool, creative vibe – is becoming a place to settle down at exactly the right time.”
Life in lockdown means that customers are thinking differently about what they need from their homes longer term. Access to outside space is now a ‘must have’ and is a significant draw for The Ironworks purchasers. The residents of every home will have easy access to the outdoors, as each property comes with a balcony, roof terrace or garden and a public ‘pocket’ park on site will add to the sense of an oasis in the city.
Jonathan Morgan, city centre specialist at Linley & Simpson with Morgans, sales agents for The Ironworks, said:
“People have been looking for serious, well designed, sustainable apartments and houses in Leeds city centre for years and The Ironworks delivers on all levels. It’s been interesting to see so many first-time buyers coming forward in this first wave of sales and it’s a sign of the pent-up demand for the kind of product we just haven’t been able to offer before. There’s been considerable interest in all the different property types, from a wide range of people at different life-stages, which suggests that these modern, flexible homes appeal to anyone who is interested in design and build quality as well as the excitement of living in a distinctive, historic and convenient location.”
Homes at The Ironworks will be available to move into in late 2021.
This post is based on a press release issued on behalf of The Ironworks
Nice for some folk. Not what south Leeds has been in need of for 40 years at least. That being simple affordable rental accommodation1-2-3 bedrooms starting from £60 to £100 week inclusive of rates. Why so bloody hard ? Why so bloody obvious.
Gordon, the simple answer is that land values are so high it’s not possible to build low cost housing using private equity funding. The council would be able to do it using land they own, but it’s not possible for the private developers because they have to pay market rates for the land.
I don’t know how much the land at Ironworks was, but similar sites in the area can be £2 to 3 million. I know of one small city centre site that sold for over £5 million due to it’s location.