Planning Application Submitted for New Council Housing in Farsley

Leeds Council advances affordable housing plans on Richmond Road site

Leeds City Council has submitted a planning application for a new council housing development on a vacant brownfield site in Farsley. The proposal involves constructing 25 one and two-bedroom apartments aimed at people registered on Leeds’s housing list.

Details of the proposed development

The development is planned as a two-storey building located on Richmond Road, a site previously occupied by the Richmond House care home, which was demolished in 2024. The scheme forms part of the Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP), which has delivered numerous affordable homes across Leeds in recent years.

• 25 apartments with one and two bedrooms
• Designed to exceed national standards on space and accessibility
• Incorporates high-specification insulation, double glazing, and sustainable heating and energy measures
• Landscaped outdoor areas with trees, shrubs, and a secure private garden for residents
• Car parking bays equipped for electric vehicle charging
• Bike storage facilities

Community engagement and design changes

Earlier plans for the site proposed 33 apartments in a building up to three storeys high. Following consultation with local residents, concerns were raised about the size and height of the building. In response, the council reduced the number of apartments and lowered the building to two storeys. The external design was also modified to better fit the character of the surrounding homes.

Additional engagement included an in-person event and distribution of information leaflets to over 350 local homes, businesses, and organisations prior to submitting the application.

Context within wider housing initiatives

The CHGP has recently completed projects such as affordable homes at Brooklands Avenue in Seacroft and Ambertons in Gipton. Current developments include:

• Middlecross in Armley: 65 apartments for affordable rent, aimed at people over 55 with care and support needs
• Hough Top in Swinnow, near Pudsey: 82 affordable homes

Planning applications have also been submitted for further CHGP schemes at Wood Lane in Rothwell and the former Kingsdale Court flats site in Boggart Hill, Seacroft, which together could deliver 100 affordable homes.

Council statement

Councillor Peter Carlill, Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport and planning, said the council is committed to delivering high quality, energy-efficient council homes across the city. He welcomed the Richmond Road application and noted the importance of incorporating resident feedback into the design. He added that the scheme would help address local affordable housing needs and provide residents with opportunities to remain close to their communities and support networks.