Leeds City Council housing development reaches key milestone
Work on a new housing development has reached a key milestone as our Construction business continues to create high-quality, affordable homes for local people.
The development – which will provide a total of 55 council houses and bungalows – has been taking shape in the Ambertons area of Gipton since early last year.
And, in an important step towards the successful delivery of the scheme, tenants are now settling into the first six completed homes after picking up their keys at the end of last month.
The development – which is being built by our Construction business and forms part of Leeds’s Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP) – is due for overall completion by the end of the year. It will offer a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses and one-bedroom bungalows, split across various pieces of brownfield land on Amberton Terrace, Amberton Crescent, Amberton Street and Montagu Avenue.
Energy efficiency has played a central role in the design and build programme, with the council’s net zero credentials being supported by the fitting of air source heat pumps rather than gas boilers.
The properties also offer level access to facilitate the installation, where required, of mobility-friendly features such as through-floor lifts.
And, although the scheme’s primary focus is the delivery of new homes, it is also benefiting the local community in other ways. Wates carried out a wide-ranging programme of engagement activities during work on the new homes. Notable initiatives have included:
- Partnering with sub-contractor Wernick Hire, to donate a repurposed container worth £2750 to Harehills-based charity, CATCH, providing essential storage for their educational farm. The farm offers young people hands-on learning experiences with animals and gardening.
- Providing work experience and pre-employability opportunities for a total of 10 young people.
- The award of a £4,500 grant from the Wates Family Trust to People’s Pantry and The Clothing Rebellion, a community charity based at the Old Fire Station in Gipton.
- Volunteering by members of the construction team to support the Gipton Growers gardening group during Community Conservation Week.
- Linking up with several local schools, including the Co-op Academy Leeds and Leeds East Academy, for site visits and other work.
The handover of these properties is a really important milestone and highlights the positive difference that our Council Housing Growth Programme is making to communities in Leeds.
“We know that, despite the programme’s achievements, there is still a pressing need for good-quality affordable homes in many parts of the city, including Gipton.
“The Ambertons scheme – and others like it – will help address that need, providing the sort of safe, warm and welcoming housing that can transform lives.
“I’m also delighted that the scheme is benefiting the wider community, with improvements to local roads and green space complementing the engagement work that has been done by Wates.
“It’s this kind of collaborative approach – coupled with our determination to ensure that Leeds is the best place in the country to call home – that has helped make the Council Housing Growth Programme such a success.”
Councillor Jess Lennox
Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing
Since 2020, we have been working in close partnership with Leeds City Council to deliver much-needed affordable housing, and seeing new tenants move into their homes is one of the most rewarding aspects of these projects.
“The Ambertons development is about more than building houses; it is about shaping a connected community where people feel they belong and can thrive for generations to come. Our teams have shown immense dedication in bringing this scheme to life, and we look forward to the next milestone on this journey.”
David Wingfield
Managing Director of Construction East at Wates
I’m delighted we’re able to help bring more high-quality council homes to East Leeds.
“Having a safe and secure place to call home should be a fundamental right of everyone, which is why we’re putting new housing at the heart of our mission to build a happy West Yorkshire.
“Together with partners like Leeds City Council, we’re committed to building the thousands of new homes our region needs to deliver a greener, more vibrant future for all.”
Tracy Brabin
Mayor of West Yorkshire
