Members of the public will be given an update next week on plans to build more than 100 affordable homes as part of the regeneration of a former school site in Leeds.
Leeds City Council has long held ambitions to transform part of the former Copperfields College site in Cross Green by bringing forward much-needed housing. Those plans are now moving a step closer, with Incommunities housing association and developer Keepmoat preparing a planning application for a scheme that would also include a replacement community sports pitch.
If approved, the development would deliver around 120 high-quality, energy-efficient affordable homes on a 3.9-hectare section of the wider site, which lies to the south-west of Co-op Academy Brierley. In line with the council’s commitment to tackling inequality and creating communities that work for everyone, 60 per cent of the homes would be for social rent, with the remaining 40 per cent offered at affordable rent.
The homes would be owned and managed by Incommunities, with all first lettings, and 60 per cent of future lettings – allocated to people on the council’s housing register.
Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing said:
“We are proud of the work we have done and continue to do with partners to support the delivery of affordable housing in communities across Leeds.
“The plans for the former Copperfields College site underline our determination to build on our achievements to date and we would encourage as many people as possible to come along to the consultation event to learn more about the proposed scheme.”
Nearly 1,900 affordable homes were delivered in Leeds between 2022 and 2025, with around a quarter built or acquired directly by the council. Just under 40 per cent were provided by registered providers, including housing associations, and third sector organisations, while a further 35 per cent came through planning agreement funding involving private developers and the council.
Last week, senior councillors approved a new 10-year strategy aimed at increasing delivery to 1,500 affordable homes a year by 2036.
Aimee Law, director of development and regeneration at Incommunities said:
“Engaging with our customers and the local community is an important part of how we approach developments like this, and this event provides a valuable opportunity for people to learn more about the plans for the site and the affordable homes we propose to deliver.
“We believe this scheme will have a transformative impact on the area, providing much-needed homes for local people and supporting wider regeneration.”
Residents will have the chance to learn more about the proposals at a drop-in consultation event being held at St Hilda’s Church Hall on Cross Green Lane from 3pm to 6pm next Tuesday, March 24. Representatives from the council, Incommunities and Keepmoat will be on hand to answer questions and explain how the scheme is intended to help meet housing needs in this part of the city.
The council has provisionally agreed to sell the land to Incommunities following a bidding process restricted to registered providers of affordable housing. Completion of the sale is conditional on the delivery of an upgraded replacement sports pitch elsewhere on the wider Copperfields site, with the cost covered by the capital receipt from the land sale.
Located around a mile east of Leeds city centre, the former Copperfields site covers 10.3 hectares and is bordered by the A63, Cross Green Lane and Pontefract Lane. Copperfields College closed in 2004 and its former buildings were demolished around five years later.
Much of the remaining land was earmarked in 2017 for potential future housing as part of the council’s Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan, while Co-op Academy Brierley opened on the central part of the site in 2024.
Incommunities owns and manages more than 22,650 homes across Yorkshire. Alongside delivering services to residents, the housing provider invests in existing properties, develops new homes and works to strengthen local communities. Its wider support includes helping people into work through skills training, work experience and apprenticeship opportunities.
For further information, please visit www.incommunities.co.uk
