The Council have submitted a Planning application to build 25 new homes in the Garnets off Dewsbury Road. The 2/3 bedroom houses with gardens and off road parking will replace 76 back to back houses that were demolished several years ago. Since then the site has been vacant leaving a large empty space in the middle of the Garnets.
The full planning application can be viewed via the public portal here. Any comments or objections to the planning application can be made before Friday 21 August 2015, either online or by post (please see link and address at bottom of article).
The plans for the new homes were revealed at a consultation in January where residents were invited to give feedback on the proposed development. Many had reservations to the development due to the impact that 100+ new people will have on an already densely populated area which is surrounded by 3 busy main roads.
The main concerns residents have to the development is that it does not include any green space, in addition to safety and noise issues caused by the volume of trucks and lorries that drive through the Garnets delivering to supermarkets on Dewsbury Road. These problems have been exacerbated by the New Inn pub on Dewsbury Road being transformed into another supermarket and the building of an Aldi across the road from the Garnets which will take more green space away and increase the level of traffic, making the area even more claustrophobic.
In February Cllr Peter Gruen stated that: “We’ll assess people’s feedback on green space alongside a number of other considerations.” The plans which have been submitted for approval are the same as those presented to residents in January.
Some residents have put forward alternative plans for the development which included a new green space and Leeds Federated (the housing association which holds many properties in the area) suggested that a linear park could be created on the site. This would mean losing 5 of the proposed 2 bedroom houses but would provide much needed public space and give a facelift to an area which hundreds of motorists see first as they enter the city from the motorway.
The council have rejected both these suggestions stating that the need for new homes outweighed the need for green space. They have said that they plan to improve the small seating area and nearby playground once the new development has been built.
As a resident of the Garnets, I and my neighbours are not opposed to new houses being built in the Garnets but we value the space we currently have and feel that our quality of life will be effected by over population and lack of public space due to the proposed housing develop and current construction of another large supermarket on our doorstep.
Comment on Planning Application
By Post: Planning Services, Leonardo Building, 2 Rossington Street, Leeds LS2 8HD
Application reference number: 15/03808/LA
This post was written by Toby Lloyd using our Create an article for South Leeds Life page.
