Member Article

Leeds Core Strategy plans set for final approval

Two major planning proposals which will underpin all future development and growth in Leeds are set to be put before the city’s councillors for their final approval.

The Core Strategy, which will provide a 15-year masterplan for all housing growth and development in the city, and the introduction of a new Community Infrastructure Levy on new developments will be discussed by Leeds City Council’s executive board next week at Civic Hall.

If the executive board gives its approval, the proposals will then be referred to November’s meeting of the full council where they will be voted on being officially adopted by the city.

If adopted, the Core Strategy, which has been developed in several stages since 2006, would become the principal planning and development guide for the entire Leeds district.

Its core principles now approved by the Government inspector Mr Anthony Thickett include providing 70k new homes in the Leeds district up to 2028, at an agreed rate of 3,660 a year in the initial years with a commitment to a ‘significant proportion’ of new affordable housing.

Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor Keith Wakefield said: “This is a highly significant step towards making Leeds the best city to live and work in the UK. I am delighted that the Core Strategy can now be taken to executive board and full council for a vote on its adoption.

“The strategy will make a massive difference as it will provide a modern forward-thinking blueprint for all future growth in terms of housing, job creation, development and the economy in a sustainable way.

“It has taken a long time to get to this point involving a lot of people and a lot of hard work, but it needed to be done right and it’s great that we are now almost there.”

Fitting within the Core Strategy framework, the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) would be introduced from April 2015 as a new way of collecting contributions from developers for infrastructure facilities such as transport, education, the Leeds Flood Alleviation scheme or greenspace.

It has been driven by changes to the existing Section 106 regulations which come into force in April.

Consultation on the Core Strategy has taken place with the public, councillors, developers and representatives of the constructions industries, community groups, parish councils, Leeds Civic Trust, Leeds Chamber of Commerce, the Environment Agency, the Highways Agency and neighbouring local authorities in the wider Leeds City Region. The Community Infrastructure Levy for Leeds, including a draft charging schedule with rates varying depending on the type of development being proposed and the area of the city it is proposed in, has similarly been developed after consultation with all key stakeholders and the public.

© Copyright David Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .