A new council housing scheme in Seacroft is delivering high-quality affordable homes while also celebrating the legacy of a local sporting hero.
The Leeds City Council development on Brooklands Avenue has transformed a former brownfield site into a community of 25 one-bedroom apartments alongside eight two and three-bedroom houses. In a special tribute, the apartment building has been named after Doris Storey, the east Leeds swimmer who, at just 19 years old, won two gold medals at the 1938 Empire Games in Sydney.
Two of Doris Storey’s grandchildren, brothers Darren and Damian Quarmby, joined senior councillors and stakeholders at Brooklands Avenue to mark the near completion of the development. During the visit, guests toured the newly named Doris Storey House apartment building, part of the wider Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP).
The scheme will deliver 33 new affordable homes – all available for rent by council tenants, providing a much-needed boost in Seacroft, where demand for housing remains high.
Councillor Jess Lennox, Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing said:
“It was great to attend the event at Brooklands Avenue, a development which highlights the impressive results being delivered by our Council Housing Growth Programme. I paid a visit to the site when work was just starting early last year, so to see it now, filled with high-quality and affordable homes ready for the arrival of new tenants, is something really special.
“It’s important for a scheme such as this to look and feel like part of the wider community and – by honouring the exploits of Doris Storey, a genuine local hero – it is doing exactly that.”
The celebration also featured the official unveiling of a striking mural in the foyer of Doris Storey House. Created by artist Alexandra Elstone with support from a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, the artwork presents a stylised image of a female swimmer in competitive action, capturing the spirit of Doris’s sporting achievements.
The unveiling was attended by pupils from Beechwood Primary School in Seacroft, who played a key role in shaping the tribute. After researching a range of potential names for the building last year, the children chose to honour Doris Storey, ensuring her legacy lives on in the community where she was born.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture said:
“I think it’s vital that we, as a city, celebrate the part that culture of all kinds – including sport and art – has played and continues to play in the rich and endlessly-fascinating story of Leeds.
“I was delighted, therefore, to join Alexandra Elstone to perform the official unveiling of her new mural at Doris Storey House.
“It’s a stunning piece of work and a fine example of how modern-day Leeds can show its appreciation for the people from the past whose dedication and talent helped make our city great.”
Guests at the event were also given an exclusive preview of a new Leeds Civic Trust blue plaque celebrating Doris Storey’s sporting achievements. The plaque will be permanently installed at the old York Road baths in Richmond Hill, where Doris trained while working as a machinist at the Burton’s factory on nearby Hudson Road. The site is now operated as a gym by The Gym Group, and a date for the official unveiling will be announced soon.
Doris’s remarkable career saw her represent Great Britain at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, before going on to win two gold medals at the 1938 Empire Games – the forerunner of today’s Commonwealth Games.
Martin Hamilton, director of Leeds Civic Trust said:
“Our blue plaques scheme celebrates the people and places that have shaped Leeds, helping us remember their achievements and the city’s proud history. Doris’s story is one of dedication and community spirit, and her plaque will help ensure that legacy is not forgotten.”
The majority of funding for the Brooklands Avenue development has been provided by Leeds City Council, with additional support from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund. The scheme has been built by Wates Construction, with the homes set to be formally handed over to the council next week, ready for the first residents to move in shortly after.
Since construction began in late 2023, Wates has delivered an extensive community engagement programme in Seacroft, bringing lasting benefits alongside the new homes. Highlights include:
- Engaging with more than 1,330 local students through school activities, work experience placements, site visits, and other initiatives.
- Providing a £10,000 grant from the Wates Family Enterprise Trust to support the Seacroft Community On Top group.
- Contributing 110 hours of volunteer time from the Brooklands Avenue construction team to help improve the Seacroft Forest Garden community green space.
David Wingfield, managing director of Construction East at Wates said:
“I’m incredibly proud of the homes we’ve built at Brooklands Avenue. This development is a testament to the care, quality and commitment that Wates brings to every project. These are homes designed to last, to provide places where people can feel proud to live, build their futures and truly thrive.
“It’s been a privilege to work alongside Leeds City Council to deliver housing that meets real local need while honouring the legacy of a local hero.”
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said:
“These new homes are a fantastic addition to Seacroft, offering affordable, high-quality places for families to call their own. It’s also fitting that they honour Doris Storey, whose achievements continue to inspire.
“By investing in sites like this through our Brownfield Housing Fund, we’re building the homes local people need while protecting our green spaces for future generations.”
Since 2018, the Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP) has delivered more than 350 newly built homes and acquired over 450 additional properties, both helping to ease the city’s affordable housing pressures. Recent developments include new homes at Barncroft Close in Seacroft, Scott Hall Drive in Chapel Allerton, and a major scheme in Middleton on the former Throstle Recreation Ground and Middleton Skills Centre site.
Work is also underway on several other CHGP projects, with construction currently progressing in the Ambertons area of Gipton, at Hough Top in Swinnow, and on the site of the former Middlecross Day Centre in Armley.
