Blog Archives

Visit from under Secretary of State

3/31/2014

The Holbeck Neighbourhood Plan was definitely on the government’s radar this week following a visit by Steve Williams, the Under Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government. He came to find out from local residents their experience of Neighbourhood Planning in an Inner City area. Residents and members of the Holbeck Neighbourhood Forum told him why they had been motivated to embark on a Neighbourhood Plan, describing some of the challenges the area faces but with an overwhelmingly positive viewpoint of wanting to preserve and enhance their heritage, architecture and greenspace enabling it to meet the needs of the local community and remain uniquely Holbeck.

The Under Secretary was then given a whistle stop tour of some of Holbeck’s landmarks such as the viaduct, the back to backs and Holbeck mills. The Holbeck Neighbourhood Forum who will be taking forward the Neighbourhood Plan hold their first AGM on Saturday 29th March where a board will be elected to further progress the Plan.

Ellie Rogers
Neighbourhood Improvement Officer
Citizens & Communities
Leeds City Council

An Edible Community Garden in Holbeck?

3/21/2014

Plans are currently being developed for a community garden to grow fruit and vegetables in Holbeck and local charity Health For All are seeking community support to help make it happen.

The little used games space next to Holbeck Youth and Community Centre could be the site of a new community garden where people can come to relax, learn new skills, and cook together. The project is still looking for funding, and in the middle of a community consultation, but there are lots of ideas for what the garden could include already.

The garden could have beautiful mosaics and artwork on the walls, raised beds growing all the veg you need for your Sunday roast or Friday night curry, and a pizza oven built by local people. It would host tons of family-friendly gardening activities, teach DIY skills to young people, and offer a chance to learn traditional skills like jam making. We could even have bees for honey and some chickens for fresh eggs! It's completely up to you, and it wouldn't cost anything to join in.

The Games area was installed almost 20 years ago and over time has become increasingly less used as more up-to-date facilities have been built to meet local demand. The proposal is to turn half of the area into a garden, as well as the areas outside the games space. This means people can still use a large area to play games, and at the same time others can grow amazing food and beautiful flowers.

The work will be commissioned by Health for All, and carried out by Hyde Park Source, who regularly turn disused urban areas into vibrant gardens, seating areas, and playgrounds. Everyone can get involved in the practical stuff, and you'll learn tons of new skills in the process.

There will be an open evening at Holbeck Youth and Community Centre on Wednesday the 26th, from 5pm-6:30pm

Come along to find out more about the proposal, get inspired and tell us your ideas. Maybe even sign up to do a bit of volunteering to help turn the dream into reality. There will be refreshments, curry and cake, arts and crafts activities for kids, short videos of other community gardens, and plenty of opportunity to write down your suggestions. You can even plant some cress or chives to take away with you.

We are also planning a short trip to some existing gardens, to get a better idea of what Holbeck Edible Garden could look like. Then we will visit the site at Holbeck Youth and Community Centre for a bite to eat and a chat about what we can do with the space now we have some inspiration. The first trip will be on Monday the 14th of April, and will be free, accessible, and family-friendly.

For more information and to keep up to date, email [email protected]
Alternatively follow us on Facebook – Holbeck Community Garden Consultation
Or write to the following address and we will send you information on upcoming events:
Stephanie Robinson
Health for All
Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre
Acre Close
Middleton
Leeds
LS10 4HX

Stephanie Robinson, Health for All

New House Build in Holbeck

3/21/2014

The community came out to celebrate the start of house building in Holbeck.

Unity Homes & Enterprise are building 42 new houses and flats on the Brown Lane East site next to Holbeck Moor. Although not officially part of the PFI funded housing regeneration scheme, the homes are being built by the same contractor Keepmoat. The new houses will replace the back-to-back houses that were demolished on Brown Lane East, Runswick Place, Terrace and Street.

Local residents, school children, Councillors, staff from Keepmoat and Unity and new apprentices mark the start of work. Photo: Jeremy Morton

Children from Ingram Road Primary School were on hand to mark the occasion and they submitted a list of suggestions for naming the new streets and blocks. The children have been looking into the history of the area and discovered amongst other things that there were cricket pitches on the site before the back-to-back streets were built. In fact the Australian cricket team once played a match in Holbeck.

Ali Akbor, Chief Executive of Unity Homes & Enterprise said:

“We are very pleased to be building the first new houses to built for a long time Holbeck. We are at the start of a redevelopment project that we will see more delivered through the PFI. We are very grateful to the support of Leeds City Council and the Homes & Communities Agency.

“It is very pleasing that we have been able to create job opportunities through our contractor Keepmoat, who will deliver ten jobs including apprenticeships for local people.”

The homes at Brown Lane East will be a mix of three and four bedroom houses and two bedroom flats. They will be available to rent, or to buy on a shared ownership basis.

For more information please contact Unity Homes & Enterprise on (0113) 200 7700 or email: [email protected].

With thanks to Jeremy Morton of South Leeds Life for this article: www.southleedslife.com

Ellie Rogers
Neighbourhood Improvement Officer

Brown Lane East Update

3/3/2014

Things are moving apace with most of the initial ground works being completed, foundations poured and brickwork beginning to emerge out of the ground. Keepmoat still hope to complete in December.

Keepmoat are currently assessing local people for a host of varied and interesting job and apprenticeship opportunities. Anyone interested in the opportunities should contact Kelly Jennings on 2007738 for more information.

Ellie Rogers, Neighbourhood Improvement Officer, Leeds City Council