Bellway Homes forms £1.2bn regeneration jv with Leeds council

Bellway Homes have agreed a joint venture with Leeds city council to deliver a £1.2bn 20-year regeneration scheme that will transform some of Leeds’ most deprived areas. Following intensive negotiations, members of Leeds city council’s executive board have agreed to back a strategic partnership with Bellway that will deliver the EASEL (East and South East Leeds) scheme. The EASEL scheme spans one of the largest regeneration areas in the country covering an area of 1,700 hectares and four council wards. Bellway and the council will set up a dedicated jointly owned company that will reinvest the proceeds of development into a wide-ranging social as well as physical programme. Plans for EASEL include more than 5,000 new homes, new neighbourhood centres, schools, health provision and public realm. John Watson, Bellway chief executive, added: “The EASEL joint venture will not only rebuild large areas of Leeds but will also invest in social and environmental projects geared towards transforming levels of aspiration and opportunity for local people.” Planning applications for more than 700 new homes on eight initial sites in Gipton and Seacroft have already been submitted. Construction is expected to start later this year.