Demolition Begins on Seacroft Flats for New Housing

Leeds Council starts clearing Kingsdale Court to make way for affordable homes

Demolition work has commenced at the Kingsdale Court complex in the Boggart Hill area of Seacroft, Leeds, as part of a wider regeneration plan to replace the existing flats with new affordable housing. The site, which has been associated with poor housing conditions and social issues, is being cleared to enable the construction of new council homes.

Background and acquisition process

Kingsdale Court, built in the 1960s, consists of eight medium-rise blocks containing 88 flats. Over recent years, the complex suffered from declining occupancy, deteriorating conditions, and issues related to crime and anti-social behaviour. The flats were all privately owned, with fragmented management arrangements contributing to the decline.

Leeds City Council undertook a lengthy acquisition process, negotiating with numerous individual owners to purchase the flats, freehold, and management rights. This process was completed in May 2025 without resorting to compulsory purchase powers. Following acquisition, tenants were offered rehousing assistance tailored to their needs.

Demolition and future development plans

Demolition began in October 2025 and is expected to be completed in 2026. The site has been secured with hoardings to ensure safety during the clearance and redevelopment phases.

Design work is ongoing for the new housing scheme, with a planning application to be submitted once details are finalised. The proposed development aims to include a mix of houses and apartments that are energy efficient, affordable, and available for rent to those on Leeds’s housing register.

Council Housing Growth Programme involvement

The new homes will be delivered through Leeds City Council’s Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP), which has previously developed hundreds of homes across the city. Recent CHGP projects include:

• Brooklands Avenue, Seacroft – 25 one-bedroom apartments and eight two- and three-bedroom houses on a former brownfield site
• Middleton – 176 homes including the 60-apartment Gascoigne House extra care facility
• Current developments at Hough Top in Swinnow and the former Middlecross Day Centre site in Armley

Regeneration aims

The Boggart Hill area has been identified by Leeds City Council as a priority neighbourhood for regeneration efforts to reduce deprivation and strengthen community cohesion. The council aims to improve living standards and provide quality housing that benefits both tenants and the wider area.

Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing has emphasised the council’s commitment to tackling deprivation and delivering good quality, affordable homes through this project.