New plans in for major Leeds development site

A proposed development of more than 1,400 homes, student accommodation and commercial space across a host of new buildings on a prominent site in Leeds has moved forward with the submission of a planning application.Latimer Developments, supported by Lichfields, has submitted plans to Leeds City Council for the former City Reach site.The 12.1-acre site was previously occupied by the former Yorkshire Chemical Works and First Bus depot, but has since been cleared.The hybrid application includes detailed plans for the demolition of the remaining structures and construction of four new buildings to provide 619 apartments.The element of the scheme also include four townhouses, a student accommodation block comprising 334 cluster flats and 28 studios, and 33,000 sq ft of flexible ground floor retail, commercial, leisure, health, cultural and community floorspace.New public spaces would be created and the existing river bridge would be replaced.Outline planning permission is also sought a further six buildings featuring 804 apartments, ten townhouses, about 14,000 sq ft of commercial and community space, and new public spaces, including a riverside park.The tallest of the new buildings would stand at 17 storeys.In total, the development would include 503 affordable homes.Options for the commercial and community spaces include a convenience unit, food hall, commercial shed, café, work hubs, start-up spaces, cultural space, cycle hub, GP surgery, gym and a community hall.It added that the proposed development would generate “significant inward investment in the region and generation of employment opportunities, expenditure associated with the proposed residential development, business rates and CIL revenue”.Pre-application plans for the development were presented to the council’s City Plans Panel in September, with members supportive of the proposals.Outline planning permission for the City Reach scheme, including housing and student accommodation, was granted in 2016.