You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Leeds 'requires major housing boost' to avoid shortfall
The Leeds City Region needs a major boost in its housing supply if it is to continue its economic growth, with a 30,000 home shortfall anticipated by 2021.
This is the finding from Savills? detailed report on the area, which is currently undergoing ?dramatic transformation? including population growth of 3.1% in the past five years.
The report said the recovering economy in the area has led to a growth in residential demand, with a shortfall in the delivery of new homes.
It said the area ? which encompasses York, Barnsley, Huddersfield and Skipton ? needs 90,000 new units by 2021.
However, Savills said it can only identify 60,000 in the development pipeline ? 16,500 under construction, 19,100 permitted and 24,400 under application.
?The problem is exacerbated by the green belt, which constrains the number of sites able to come forward and the cost of developing out major regeneration schemes, which raises viability issues in weaker markets,? the Savills report said.
It identified ?housing hotspots? ? particularly Wakefield ? where the potential exists for more housing development.
The report added: ?It is essential that local authorities across the region work together to meet the demands of the growing economy.
?An absence of suitable homes could easily restrict growth if lack of supply or affordability problems prevent people from moving to the City Region.?
| In numbers: Leeds City Region housing crisis | |
|---|---|
| 90,000 | units of housing needed to meet need by 2021 |
| 16,500 | homes currently under construction across the region |
| 30,000 | home deficit projected by 2021 |
| 36% | of new housing in Harrogate delivered through change of use |
| Source: Savills | |
