Sustainable Communities for Leeds appointed to £180m housing PFI project

The government has given the go-ahead to a £180m housing PFI project to revitalise three areas of Leeds.

Leeds council has appointed regeneration consortium Sustainable Communities for Leeds (sc4L) to the scheme, which will focus on the neighbourhoods of Little London, Beeston Hill and Holbeck.

The council will now work with sc4L to finalise its proposals, which include 388 new council properties, the refurbishment of over 1200 existing council homes and various environmental improvements.

The 20-year housing PFI contract also includes a repairs and maintenance service for new build and refurbished council homes and estate areas within the project areas.

The Treasury is expected to give the contract its blessing early in 2012, and work should begin on site in Spring 2012. 

Keith Wakefield, leader of Leeds council, said: “This is a massive project for the city, representing investment of £180m in deprived inner city areas, so it is a huge relief that the government have finally given us the go ahead. We always had faith that this was a very strong project, which has made the hold ups all the more difficult to accept.

“It is tremendous that we are now in a position to move forward. Hopefully this will bring an end to the uncertainty for the communities involved. We had hoped to start work this summer, so everyone connected with this scheme can’t wait to get started. Hopefully over the next few months people living nearby should start to see things happening on site.”

Derek Anderson, project director for Sustainable Communities 4 Leeds (sc4L), said: “Sc4L are delighted to have been named preferred bidder for the Little London, Beeston Hill and Holbeck PFI project. We look forward to working with Leeds council to achieve financial close and thereafter see the successful delivery of a project that will help rejuvenate local communities.”