Work begins on Citu’s £125m Climate Innovation District in Leeds

Work has commenced on the first phase of Citu’s £125m Climate Innovation District, a new sustainable neighbourhood in the centre of South Bank Leeds.

Located on six acres of brownfield land, off East Street and South Accommodation Road, this phase will include 150 energy-efficient timber frame houses and 162 apartments.

The first phase of development has been launched with the help of a £7.7m loan from the RIF, a fund established by a partnership of seven Yorkshire local authorities that aims to support projects which accelerate economic growth and job creation in the Leeds City Region, in a deal secured by Leeds-based legal advisors Squire Patton Boggs.

The residential scheme, located on the south bank of the River Aire, will feature one and two-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom zero-carbon homes, designed around public open spaces.

The new homes will use up to 90% less energy for heating and will incorporate many green innovations including rainwater harvesting, solar power and smart technology which allows homeowners to control energy remotely via a desktop, tablet or smartphone.

The factory-made houses will be manufactured in the Climate Innovation District at Citu Works, a new manufacturing plant run by developer. The factory will allow every element of the environmentally-friendly timber frame homes to be designed and made in controlled conditions, meaning that heating bills and carbon emissions are a fraction of those of a conventional property.

Building contractor Sirius has started remediation work on site, with the first homes due for completion early 2017.

The sustainable developer started the work on site with Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council; Tom Riordan, chief executive of Leeds City Council and Roger Marsh, chair of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and representatives of the Leeds City Region Revolving Investment Fund (RIF).

Joanne Roney, chair of the RIF and chief executive of Wakefield Council, said: “The RIF is delighted to invest in this scheme. Being able to anticipate future market trends and provide loan funding for innovative projects such as this – that will provide economic, employment and environmental benefits across the region – is precisely why the Leeds City Region Revolving Investment Fund was established.”

Chris Thompson, director and founder of Citu, added: “With the support of the Council, the LEP and the RIF, we’re able to start on site with the initial phase of low-carbon homes and take that first step towards making the Climate Innovation District a reality.

“This area has long played a key role in Leeds’s history, once the heart of manufacturing in the city. It makes sense that it will now be home to a green revolution; a sustainable community where families, downsizers, singletons and couples can live in medium density neighbourhoods that are well designed, low energy and peppered with the necessary amenities to sustain a happy existence.”

Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor Judith Blake also commented: “We are very pleased to see this bold, ambitious and innovative development in South Bank Leeds being supported with the first approved loan from the Leeds City Region Revolving Investment Fund. This project fits perfectly with the regeneration ideals the fund is looking to encourage so we look forward to closely following its development in the coming months and years.”

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