Frequently Asked Questions

The proposed new council housing development supports the council’s priorities of providing housing of the right quality, type, tenure and affordability, as well as minimising homelessness through a greater focus on prevention.

Our new build council homes are built to high standards of insulation and air tightness, improving energy efficiency. This helps to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and tackle fuel poverty by reducing energy consumption and running costs for tenants.

The proposed development would also endeavour to provide employment, work experience and apprenticeship opportunities for the local community. 

The Hough Top Court site has been assessed in the Site Allocation Plan (SAP) and has been allocated for housing. The SAP is a key document in the Local Plan for Leeds which identifies sites for housing, employment, retail and green space. More information can be found on the council’s website: 

Site Allocations Plan (leeds.gov.uk)

Pressure on council housing stock is increasing with an average of 358 bids for each home advertised in the local area. This housing development would support the council’s priorities of providing quality, affordable housing where it is needed. This proposal will also bring a currently unused brownfield site back into use. The proposed site layout has been developed following consultation with a range of council departments and is being further reviewed during the public pre-planning consultation.

Based on a successful planning application, construction is due to begin in summer 2024 and is currently planned to finish in spring 2026. 

The site will be controlled under the Considerate Constructors Scheme and communications will be issued to those directly impacted by the construction site, this will include confirmation of working hours. Full details of the Considerate Constructors Scheme can be found at: https://www.ccscheme.org.uk/

A Construction Method Statement will be submitted to the Local Planning Authority which will provide details on:

• Hours of operation for construction activities
• Construction access and parking of vehicles for site operatives (the statement will propose an access from Hough Top with parking to be provided on site throughout the construction period)
• Timing of deliveries (to avoid busy times / reduce congestion)
• Security
• Measures to control dirt and dust.

The new build site will include approximately: 

• 55 houses, mainly 2 and 3 bedroom homes; 
• 27 apartments comprising of 1 and 2 bed accommodation; 
• public open space.

Numbers will be firmed up prior to the planning application submission, which will follow completion of the community consultation and outcomes of further survey work on site. 

When deciding the property mix, a number of factors have been taken into consideration including: site constraints; limitations; property demand data and the local housing requirements as determined by colleagues in Housing Management. As a result of this analysis, it was determined that 1 and 2 bedroom apartments would be needed for the development as well as a mix of housing.

Traffic impact is being considered as part of the pre-planning application process and data will be collected which will inform a Transport Statement to be submitted with the planning application. Surveys will be undertaken during peak periods, such as school drop-off and pick-up times. Weekend monitoring will be considered and this has been referred to the organisation undertaking the Transport Statement. Once the planning application is submitted, the council’s Highways and Travel Team will be consulted on the proposals. They will provide comments and raise any objections which will be uploaded to the public access planning website. These will be available to view on the planning portal.   

The development proposes to include parking spaces for residential housing and apartment developments in accordance with Leeds City Council’s parking standards which are specified in the February 2023 Transport Supplementary Planning Document. This will include off street parking and one car parking space for each apartment dwelling, which will be within a communal off-street parking area.

Residents can also report any existing parking concerns to Parking Services: parkingservices@leeds.gov.uk or 0113 378 5000

We will explore alternative options to vehicular accesses to the east and north of the site.  A Design & Access Statement will be submitted with the planning application and this will have detail on how the new highways layouts are laid out and how this will fit with the street scene, as well as some further detail on parking for individual properties. The statement will also include information on all vehicular access points considered by Highways.

The planning application will include details on the drainage strategy, which will be tailored to the site following a range of testing and investigations. The drainage strategy will factor in the drainage provision in the local area and will adhere to Planning Policies such as surface water run-off and flood risk. The development will be designed to ensure no increase in the rate of surface water run-off to the existing formal drainage system. Sustainable drainage techniques will be incorporated wherever possible.

The site layout shows a single apartment block which is made up of 3 storeys. All new houses and apartments will be designed to protect the amenity of existing neighbours and will be sited so as to comply with the minimum separation distances as set out in the Neighbourhoods for Living Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG). Existing greenery to the south of the site which includes mature and established trees will be retained and enhanced.

There are requirements for the development to provide green space, this can be within the development or enhancements can be made to existing green space in the area. The site layout includes an area of green public open space to the south of the site which is deemed useable to the public and will be maintained by the council, therefore no enhancements will be required to existing green space in the area. Current proposals are to retain areas of existing fencing where possible to the south / southwest of the site. The existing boundary to the public open space (the southeast corner of the site) will be reviewed and as mentioned above, existing greenery which includes mature and established trees will be retained and enhanced.  

We recognise the importance of biodiversity, and the new development will be required to comply with planning policy on these matters. Detailed ecological and tree surveys will be undertaken as part of the planning process and the aim is always to maximise retention of existing trees on site. 

Where specialist reports recommend the pruning or replacement of any existing trees, Planning Policy requires three trees to be planted for every one tree that is removed. Further details on the tree proposals will be provided as part of the formal planning application.

Once the planning application is submitted, representatives for Education at Leeds City Council will be consulted on the proposals. They will provide comments and raise any objections which will be uploaded to the public access and available to view on the planning portal.

Once the planning application has been submitted, information will be found on the planning authority area of the council’s website: https://publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk/online-applications/

The website also includes information on how to register to enable you to make comments on a planning application, as well as how to track and register for email updates on an application.

Site notices will be posted around the application site. These notices will include details of the planning application reference number, how you can view proposed plans and the deadline for comments on the proposals.

An update will also be shared by the Council Housing Growth Team via post to local residents and information will be added to Your Voice. 

An automated response is generated once a comment is submitted on the portal. Individual objections and comments are not responded to. They will be covered within the report following the application decision.

We cannot provide comments and/or advice on property values and would suggest that advice is sought from a professional in this field if this is of major concern.

Details on housing priority and selection can be found here: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/housing/finding-a-home/new-council-house-developments

Priority is given to existing tenants in the ward with an excellent tenancy record or those with a close connection to the ward. The last 5 years of tenancy records will be checked. This includes rent history, any issues of antisocial behaviour and references. 

All new social housing tenancies start on an introductory period that lasts 12 months. At the 12-month stage, the tenancy is reviewed and the tenant is awarded a secure tenancy subject to a satisfactory probation period which includes rent arrears and antisocial behaviour.

The local Outer West housing office is actively involved in community cohesion and proactively tackling any antisocial behaviour issues in the area. Residents are encouraged to liaise with the local housing office, the Leeds City Council Antisocial Behaviour Team (LASBT) and the police in order to work together to resolve any concerns that may arise in the community.

Surveys and investigatory works will take place on the Hough Top Court site over the next few months. Works will not start before 8am and operatives will wear high visibility jackets and will have identification badges visible. 

You might also have noticed recent activity on site on the evening of 1st August 2023. We can confirm this related to a bat survey. Drainage-related testing also took place on site w/c 17th July 2023. Outcomes of surveys and investigatory works will be factored into the planning application submission.

Applicants will need to have a live housing application with Leeds City Council. Once advertised online, bids for the property can be placed. 

All homes will be let and managed by Leeds City Council. New build Council properties are advertised via the Leeds Homes Website: https://www.leedshomes.org.uk. For more information on renting new council homes, please email: nbh@leeds.gov.uk

Please note, you will not currently find the Hough Top Court properties on the Leeds Homes Website. Council properties are advertised on the website after planning permission on a site has been granted.  

Please contact the Council Housing Growth Team with specific details, either via email or telephone, using the contact information below:

Email: CHGHoughtopCourt@Leeds.gov.uk

Telephone: 0113 378 2815

The team will aim to provide a response within five working days.

At the moment, the Council Housing Growth Team have no further plans to build council housing on other sites in the Pudsey Ward.