Housing plan approved for former banking site

Plans to demolish former banking buildings in Leeds and replace them with 120 affordable homes have been approved by councillors.

Members of Leeds City Council's plans panel backed the redevelopment of the vacant former Lloyds Banking Group call centre site on Cote Lane in Farsley.

Plans stated that the scheme, put forward by Bank of Scotland and Breck Homes, would deliver a mix of flats, maisonettes and family houses on the brownfield land near Dawson's Corner roundabout.

Craig Timmins, Labour councillor for Farsley and Calverley, said residents did not want to see the site "stand empty indefinitely" and pointed to the growing demand for affordable housing.

The panel heard that four objections and four letters of support had been submitted during the consultation process.

Andrew Carter, Conservative councillor for Farsley and Calverley, raised concerns about the project.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he told the panel: "I'm not opposing the construction of affordable housing on this brownfield site and never have."

However, he argued the measures proposed to deal with increased traffic were insufficient and also questioned the amount of green space included in the plans.

In support of the plans, Timmins told the panel there was a "strong case" for the project, adding: "We all know the pressures facing families seeking sustainable accommodation."

The plans had been revised since the same applicants sought permission for a larger 133-home development on the site last year.

Under the latest proposals, 27 flats would be built in a single apartment block alongside 93 houses.

Developers would also be required to make financial contributions, including more than £260,000 towards improvements to green spaces elsewhere in the city.

Planning officers recommended the scheme for approval, with the panel agreeing to delegate final planning permission to Leeds City Council's chief planning officer, subject to conditions.

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