Leeds Council Approves 18-Storey Flats After Third Attempt

An 18-storey block of flats consisting of 164 apartments at Sayner Lane in Hunslet, Leeds, has been approved after three attempts to secure planning permission. The project, developed by Countrylarge Ltd, initially faced rejection due to the absence of affordable homes and concerns over lack of green space. After revising the plans to include eight discount rents at 80% of market rate and offering an increased financial contribution of nearly £207,000 towards off-site green space improvements, Leeds City Council granted approval. Councillors criticized the reliance on financial viability assessments by developers to avoid providing more affordable housing, with some expressing that the discount rents offered were not truly affordable. Despite lingering dissatisfaction about the limited green space within the development itself, the council emphasized the importance of enforcing policy standards in future proposals. The approval was deferred and delegated to the chief planning officer, contingent on legal agreements.