Council welcomes plans for new 'urban development'

South Bank is situated close to Leeds city centre

The government's plan to build a new "urban development" in Leeds has been welcomed by the city's council.

South Bank, situated close to the city centre, is one of 12 locations across England earmarked for development to boost economic growth and the supply of homes.

A government report said 13,000 homes could be built in the district, as well as three million sq ft of commercial space, but it is not clear how much of this is part of the latest proposals for an area already undergoing regeneration.

James Lewis, the leader of Leeds City Council, said the announcement was a "powerful vote of confidence in our city's ambition and potential".

A final decision on the proposals would be made next year, according to a government spokesperson.

They said they were "determined" to begin building in at least three of the areas identified during this Parliament, with South Bank identified as one of the "most promising" sites.

The South Bank runs on the southern side of the River Aire and covers the area from Holbeck to Leeds Dock.

According to a spokesperson for Leeds City Council, it spans the equivalent of 350 football pitches and has already seen "significant regeneration activity" in recent years.

The existing Aire Park development at the South Bank, due for completion in 2030, is separate to the latest announced proposals, the spokesperson confirmed.

They said there was not yet a defined boundary for the "urban development", but it would sit within the South Bank and extend into areas not covered by Aire Park.

The existing Aire Park development includes plans for shops and 500 flats

The government has been approached for further information on the scheme, which Lewis suggested was a work in progress.

Lewis said: "We look forward to seeing the proposals for South Bank develop further as we work closely with the government on the detail."

Andrew Carter, chief executive of the independent economic think tank Centre for Cities, said building more homes close to the city centre on sites like the South Bank "will be crucial to meeting Leeds' full potential".

He described the plans as "a good example of a proposed new town that is in easy reach of lots of good jobs and addresses the need for higher density development in big cities".

Mr Carter said increasing the density of a city would improve the availability of affordable housing.

The government report said housing affordability and quality were "ongoing issues for many" in Leeds, with more 26,000 on the waiting list for housing and "an above average rate of substandard housing" in the city.