Bellway to Deliver Affordable Family Housing Fr...

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, England, March 10 /PRNewswire/ --

- With Photo

    New home buyers in Leeds are set to benefit from a massive regeneration
scheme that promises to deliver some of the most affordable family friendly
homes in the country. National house builder, Bellway has reached agreement
with Leeds City Council to deliver thousands of new homes in east and south
east Leeds.



    Judith Atkinson, Regional Director for Bellway City Solutions, said:
"This is about creating better places to live by blending design quality 
with
affordable prices to create community hubs with safer streets and play areas
with more amenities. We will be opening up the prospect of home ownership to
a new generation of households in Leeds. Contemporary designed homes will
respond to a broad range of buyers needs from first-timers to more seasoned
home owners. Prices for a two-bed apartment will start at around GBP110,000
and three to four-bed homes will be priced from around GBP130,000 - a
considerable saving on the current average price of a family home across the
city. We will shortly be establishing a sales presence on site in readiness
for the first release of new homes in April."



    The first phase of development involves the construction of 742 new homes
marking the start of a twenty year renewal programme across EASEL (East and
South East Leeds) which will ultimately deliver over 5,000 new affordable
homes. "Our scheme mirrors the Government's agenda for private house builders
to deliver first-class affordable homes so that low income families can buy
into a new life style," confirmed Atkinson.



    The first two sites in Gipton and Seacroft will go on sale in the Spring.
Bellway believe that this newly designed range of homes will attract pent up
demand for family houses with private gardens which have been neglected in
the rush to build city centre apartments in Leeds in recent years.



    A joint venture company will be formed by Bellway and Leeds City Council
which will oversee the development and deliver on the Government's agenda to
replace poor quality housing estates with new mixed communities using the
profits from private development to cross-subsidise the regeneration.



    Councillor Les Carter, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Housing,
said:



    "We have put a lot of hard work into developing this innovative
regeneration project and I am delighted that we are now in a position to
start building quality affordable homes for the people of East Leeds.



    With the planned delivery of over 5,000 affordable homes, the EASEL
project has been a top priority over recent years. It is a key component of
our commitment to providing housing solutions to those people who are
struggling to get on the housing ladder such as low income families and first
time buyers.



    EASEL will bring truly transformational change to East Leeds, not just
providing new housing but also bringing lasting change to the area in terms
of new education opportunities, greater access to employment and training,
improvements to the environment and transport links and above all to raise
the aspirations and broaden horizons for people in this part of Leeds."



    For further information visit the EASEL website at
http://www.leeds.gov.uk/easel



Editors notes

    EASEL represents a 15 to 20-year joint public-private partnership
A new vision for the most deprived communities in the city - includes more
than 5,000 new homes, bringing 10,000 more people into the area and directly
creating 2,000 new jobs. Represents extra investment in new schools, road and
transport improvements, new leisure facilities including better parks, and
new shops and businesses. It will also deal with issues such as crime,
anti-social behaviour and low household incomes The first development schemes
will soon begin in Gipton and Seacroft after planning permission was granted
for 743 new homes across the two estates. Bellway Homes will build the new
houses over the next 5 years. The new homes, across 8 sites in Gipton and
Seacroft will mark a bold new future for the area, providing a variety of
specially designed new house types and sizes, including flats, villas and
town houses and employing contemporary designs and materials. Several of the
sites will also include new 'homezones' instead of more traditional streets,
providing spaces designed to reduce vehicle speed and create communal places.



    As part of the developments, 15% of the new units will be provided at
discounted purchase prices, offering local people a real opportunity to get
on the housing ladder. Over the next 15-20 years, up to 120 hectares of land
in total across East and South East Leeds could be redeveloped for housing,
employment and community related uses



The objectives of EASEL are to;

    - Create affordable, attractive and high quality housing (for
rent and to buy)



- Increase housing choice for existing residents

    - Transform the image and attractiveness of the area and maximise
the potential of high quality green spaces



    - Create lively, busy centres for new neighbourhoods with good
schools and local services



    - Improve educational attainment and skills, reduce crime, promote
employment and enterprise



    - Take advantage of existing public and private sector investment
opportunities in schools, hospitals and the neighbouring Aire Valley.



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