Leeds announces council houses plan

Leeds council has announced plans to build council houses for the first time in over 30 years.   The Conservative/Liberal Democrat alliance announced proposals today to start building properties for rent as early as next year as part of a £2.6bn drive to tackle the city’s housing crisis.   The council said the houses would be built only on brownfield sites within the city.   Some of the quota will form part of existing schemes such as the £1.2bn East and South East Leeds (EASEL) housing programme for the poorest parts of the city, which Bellway is building with the council.   There is no official figure yet for council houses. Leader of Leeds council, Councillor Andrew Carter said: “We have been introducing more and more initiatives to provide low cost home ownership schemes and more rented accommodation. It is perfectly obvious that in certain areas we need to provide rented accommodation more quickly.   “This is not a return to the old days of sub-standard massive council house building programmes with all the problems that that brought, it is a targeted approach. We will be seeking to fast track pilot schemes as quickly as possible.”       In addition to the initiative, Leeds council has plans to build over 1,000 affordable homes per year through its strategic affordable housing partnership.   The decision is Leeds’s first commitment to social housing since the 1970s.   joanne.payne@rbi.co.uk