Member Article

New Homes Development For Those In Need Is A First For Leeds

Leeds charity St George’s Crypt has started work on a £2million residential scheme near Headingley, for local people who are in housing need and recovering from addictions.

The charity has been supported by a group of experienced property professionals who are behind St George’s Crypt Development Company. The development will consist of 14 affordable one bedroom and studio apartments, all with modern kitchens and bathrooms, on Regent Terrace in Hyde Park.

The homes will be for people that St George’s Crypt is supporting as they recover from alcohol addictions and prepare to live independently. In another first, the scheme is being developed in partnership with Leeds City Council, which is providing low cost loan facilities as well as financing 30% of the capital costs through its Right to Buy Replacement Programme.

St George’s Crypt Development Company was set up to support the development of homes and community facilities for homeless and disadvantaged people throughout Leeds. The company’s board is chaired by Alison Oldfield, a partner at Eversheds Sutherland, and includes Mark Henderson from Brewster Bye Architects, Jonathan Morgan from city living specialist Morgans and Joel Owen from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

An existing building on Regent Terrace, that was already owned by St George’s Crypt, has been demolished to make way for the modern new development and Strategic Team Group has been appointed as principal contractor on the project. Work is due to complete next summer.

Mark Henderson from Brewster Bye Architects, which has designed the scheme, said: “We launched St George’s Crypt Development Company with the aim of giving people a better chance of overcoming a range of challenges in their lives, and to provide them with a home rather than a hostel bed, as they work towards living independently.

“To see work starting on our first development is a huge milestone for everyone involved in this ground-breaking concept. Once complete, it will make a significant difference to lots of people’s lives. It also has the potential to transform the entire process of how homes are delivered for people in housing need in Leeds, by successfully utilising funding from the Right to Buy Replacement Programme.”

Martin Patterson from St George’s Crypt, added: “Developing purpose built homes has been a long-term ambition of ours and it’s hugely rewarding to see work underway on our first project. We want to encourage people who are firmly committed to improving their lives. The wider programme offers a multi-faceted support base where residents live together, participate in therapy sessions and carry out voluntary work, which helps to address addictions in drugs and alcohol as well as equipping them for life after recovery.

“After creating this successful blueprint at Regent Terrace, we’re already planning our next project which will see 24, one and two bedroom, apartments built on Hedley Chase in New Wortley, on the site of the Old Liberal Club. We have already secured the site and carried out some preliminary requirements and we should be ready to start work on this next scheme within six months.”

Jason Green from Strategic Team Group said: “This development will see a tired old building replaced with a modern development that will make a difference to lots of local people as well as their families and loved ones, for years to come. It’s an exciting initiative and one that we’re delighted to be associated with.”

St George’s Crypt is based within the thriving church of St George’s in Leeds and has been at the frontline of support for homeless, disadvantaged and vulnerable people in Leeds and its surrounding areas since 1930.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Steven Wright .