The first tenants have moved into a new council housing development which will deliver dozens of affordable homes in a Leeds community.
Construction work began in late 2024 on the Hough Top scheme in Swinnow, near Pudsey, where 82 houses and apartments are being built on the site of a former school. The Leeds City Council development has now reached a major milestone, with the first seven houses completed and handed over to their new tenants. Work is progressing at pace on the remainder of the scheme, with the full development expected to be completed this winter.
The Hough Top project is being delivered through the council’s Council Housing Growth Programme, which has built or acquired hundreds of homes across Leeds in recent years. Once complete, the development will comprise 55 houses and 27 apartments, offering a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom properties. All 82 homes will be available for affordable rent to council tenants, providing a significant boost in an area where demand remains high for housing suited to a range of needs.
Energy-efficiency measures, including individual air source heat pumps, are expected to help tenants reduce their household bills at a time when the cost of living remains a concern. The scheme will also create around 4,500 square metres of public open space on the site, which had remained vacant since the former Hough Side High School buildings were demolished in 2021 and 2022.
The wider community is also benefiting from a programme of social value initiatives being delivered by the project’s lead contractor, construction firm Willmott Dixon. So far, the contractor’s team has delivered 125 weeks of apprentice training, completed almost 75 hours of engagement with schools and provided extensive careers mentoring for local people.
Most of the funding for the Hough Top scheme is being provided by the council’s housing service through Right to Buy receipts and borrowing.
Councillor Peter Carlill, Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport and planning said:
“We are determined to do everything we can to deliver good quality, energy efficient and affordable council housing in communities across the city.
“It’s therefore great news that the first homes at Hough Top have been completed and tenants are now settling into them.
“I was delighted to have the chance to visit this week to see the new houses and the progress being made on the rest of the development.
“The transformation taking place at Hough Top really does underline the difference that our Council Housing Growth Programme can make to people’s lives – and whole communities.”
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said:
“At a time when people are facing cost of living pressures, delivering new, affordable homes has never been so important.
“Devolution is making a real difference for communities, through our £110m investment to accelerate the delivery of thousands of much-needed homes in Pudsey and across West Yorkshire.
“Working in partnership with Leeds City Council, we’re not just building homes, we’re building brighter futures and investing in places where people can live, work and thrive for generations to come.”
Chris Yates, Yorkshire director at Willmott Dixon said:
“Handing over the first seven homes is a significant milestone for Hough Top and, above all, for the families now moving in. It marks the point at which years of planning and construction begin to make a tangible difference to people’s lives.
“Our local team has brought considerable housing expertise to this scheme, working closely with Leeds City Council to deliver high quality, energy efficient homes that meet a genuine local need.
“We are equally focused on the legacy we leave beyond the buildings – creating skills and employment opportunities for local people through our Building Lives Academy programme and our engagement with nearby schools and colleges. We look forward to completing the remaining homes this winter.”
The project has also received £1.64m from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund. Recent successes under the Council Housing Growth Programme include a 33-home development at Brooklands Avenue in Seacroft and a 55-home scheme in the Ambertons area of Gipton.
In Middleton, the programme has also delivered 176 homes on land formerly occupied by Throstle Recreation Ground and Middleton Skills Centre. The scheme includes Gascoigne House, a 60-apartment extra care facility. Further projects are under way across the city, including the Middlecross development in Armley. Once complete, it will provide 65 affordable-rent apartments for people aged over 55 who have care and support needs.
All new-build properties are offered at affordable rents to residents on the council’s housing register, ensuring communities across Leeds continue to benefit from modern, secure, and sustainable homes www.leedshomes.org.uk
