Leeds Unveils 10-Year Affordable Housing Strategy

March 11, 2026 Off By

New plan aims to increase affordable homes across the city by 2036

Leeds City Council has approved a new 10-year strategy focused on expanding affordable housing in the city. Building on recent successes, the Leeds Affordable Housing Strategy (LAHS) 2026-2036 sets out an ambitious vision to significantly increase the delivery of affordable homes over the next decade.

Background and previous achievements

Between 2022 and 2025, Leeds saw the delivery of nearly 1,900 affordable homes, many of which were for social rent. This progress was supported by the Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP) and partnerships with housing associations and other stakeholders. Approximately 25% of these homes were directly built or acquired by the council, with just under 40% delivered by registered providers and third sector partners. The remaining 35% were facilitated through planning agreements with private developers.

Key goals and approach of the new strategy

The LAHS aims to build on this foundation and position Leeds as a leading city in meeting housing needs. The strategy outlines a target of delivering 1,500 affordable homes annually by 2036 through collaborative efforts involving the council, registered providers, third sector partners, and private developers.

To achieve this, the strategy identifies several key steps:

Continued use of council resources, including Right to Buy receipts, to support the Council Housing Growth Programme.
Utilising new funding opportunities such as the government’s £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme.
Incorporating flexible policies within the new Leeds Local Plan to encourage affordable housing development.
Supporting housing associations through grant funding and allocating council land assets to scale up delivery.
Collaborating with public and private partners to maximise affordable housing in future mixed-use city centre developments.

Examples of recent affordable housing schemes

The strategy highlights several projects completed or underway during the 2022-2025 period, including:

Throstle Rec, Middleton: 176 affordable homes, including the 60-apartment Gascoigne House extra care facility, delivered via the CHGP.
Leonora House, Railway Street: A £12 million development of 58 flats for social rent by 54North Homes, supported by grants from the council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), and Homes England.
Colliers Park, Oulton: Replacement of 1940s prefab homes with new affordable housing, funded partly by a £2.8 million council grant to Leeds Federated Housing Association.
Registered provider-led schemes such as Points Cross (The Guinness Partnership), Saxton Heights (Vico Homes), and Dyecoats (Latimer by Clarion Housing Group) are expected to deliver hundreds more affordable homes.

Partnership working and future outlook

The council emphasises the importance of collaboration with WYCA, Homes England, housing associations, private developers, and the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership in delivering the strategy’s goals. The West Yorkshire Housing Partnership, which includes 15 members managing around 180,000 homes, has been actively involved in shaping the plan.

Rachael Dennis, chair of the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership, noted that the strategy provides a clear route for delivering more affordable homes and demonstrates Leeds’s commitment to meeting housing needs at scale. She highlighted the council’s partnership approach as key to unlocking sites and accelerating delivery.

Councillor Mary Harland, executive member for housing at Leeds City Council, stated that meeting housing needs is central to tackling inequality and building thriving communities. She acknowledged the progress made so far while recognising the challenges ahead, and expressed confidence that the strategy will help deliver homes that have a transformational impact on residents’ lives.