Key Points
- Leeds City Council has officially submitted a full planning application for a new council housing development on Richmond Road in Farsley.
- The proposed scheme consists of a two-storey residential building containing 25 one and two-bedroomed affordable apartments intended for individuals on Leeds’s housing register.
- The development will re-establish a brownfield site previously occupied by the former Richmond House care home, which was closed in 2021 and subsequently demolished.
- Following local community consultation, the initial design of 33 apartments across up to three storeys was scaled down in height and density to better complement nearby properties.
- The energy-efficient layout features high-specification insulation, double glazing, electric vehicle charging bays, bike storage, and private landscaped green space.
- The project forms part of the broader Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP) delivering affordable housing developments across Leeds.
Leeds City Council (The Leeds Times) August 24, 2026 – A formal planning application has officially been submitted by Leeds City Council to construct 25 new affordable council apartments on a vacant brownfield site situated on Richmond Road in Farsley. The scheme aims to address pressing local housing needs by providing two-storey accommodation reserved entirely for individuals and families listed on the city’s housing register.
What Are the Key Details of the Proposed Development in Farsley?
The application outlines plans for a modern two-storey residential complex containing 25 units, split between one and two-bedroomed apartments. Designed to exceed current national requirements for living space and accessibility, the proposed structure includes targeted architectural features intended to minimise energy consumption.
Every flat within the development is planned to feature double glazing, high-specification insulation, and low-carbon sustainable energy systems. Outside, the proposed plans detail dedicated vehicle parking spaces equipped with electric vehicle charging points, secure cycle storage facilities, and communal private landscaped gardens with newly planted trees and native shrubs.
How Have Community Consultations Reshaped the Building Designs?
The submission follows extensive public engagement conducted across the local community to review initial concepts. Original proposals presented in early public sessions detailed a larger three-storey building accommodating up to 33 apartments.
Following feedback regarding the overall height, building density, and visual impact on the surrounding streetscape, council architects revised the project. The overall footprint was reduced by eight units and the building height was lowered to two storeys. Leaflets outlining the revised scheme were distributed to more than 350 nearby households, businesses, and local stakeholders prior to formal registration.
Councillor Peter Carlill, Executive Member for Transport and Planning at Leeds City Council, stated that the local authority remains dedicated to delivering high-quality, energy-efficient council housing. He noted that comments provided directly by local residents during the pre-application stage were vital in reshaping the final architecture so that it aligns with the local character of Farsley while meeting regional housing demand.
What Is the Background of the Richmond Road Site?
The land set for redevelopment previously housed Richmond House, a municipal care home facility. The facility was closed in 2021 as part of broader local authority budget reductions, and the structural clearing of the site concluded following final demolition works.
Since the demolition, the site has remained a cleared brownfield plot within a residential zone. Data gathered by Leeds City Council indicates a persistent shortage of smaller, single-person and small-family affordable housing units within Farsley and the broader Pudsey area. The project is integrated into the wider Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP), an initiative responsible for adding hundreds of public housing units across West Yorkshire, including active development sites in Rothwell, Seacroft, Armley, and Swinnow.
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How Will This Development Affect the Local Community and Housing Applicants?
The successful delivery of the Richmond Road scheme is set to directly impact both local residents seeking housing stability and the broader Farsley community:
- Housing Register Applicants: For individuals and small families on Leeds’s housing waiting list, the creation of 25 dedicated council properties provides access to high-grade, secure tenure. By prioritising one and two-bedroom layouts, the site directly addresses the demographic segment experiencing the highest regional demand.
- Local Community Members: Neighboring residents stand to see a vacant brownfield plot replaced by a low-density, landscaped development. The inclusion of energy-efficient designs, dedicated electric charging points, and reduced height profiles aims to integrate the new housing into the existing neighborhood layout without imposing undue pressure on local infrastructure.
