Scholes Residential Masterplan

Scholes, Leeds

Gillespies was commissioned by GMI Property Company to develop a residential masterplan for a mixed-use site on the edge of Scholes village to the northeast of Leeds. The development will play a key part in helping to deliver new homes in Leeds and create a significant new public green space in the village.

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The outer northeast of Leeds is required to deliver around 3,470 new homes by 2028. The proposed development at Scholes will make a significant contribution towards achieving this total, delivering 3000 new family homes, 35% of which will be affordable housing, as well as a new public park adjoining the existing cricket ground, a GP surgery and pharmacy and a convenience store. The development will utilise safeguarded land, rather than green belt space.

As part of a wider design team, Gillespies assisted the developer to make representations to bring forward development on the PAS land and strategic Green Belt release through the LDF process. The indicative masterplan was produced as a tool to begin engaging with the emerging Scholes Neighbourhood Development Plan to enable a joined-up masterplan process with the local community. The masterplan promotes a holistic view to the development of Scholes, including the creation of a new village centre, school and library facilities, improved public transport, new recreation areas and a 50-hectare community woodland planted as a legacy for future generations.

Due to the potential effects on landscape character and visual amenity from the development, which will essentially double the size of the village of Scholes, an LVIA was required to ensure that the scheme was designed with very careful consideration of the potential effects on landscape character and views.

Gillespies delivered the assessment using a series of viewpoints, which were carefully selected using GIS and Google Earth data, supported by site visits. When selecting viewpoints it was important to understand not only from where the development would potentially be visible but also to understand how what is visible may relate to an individual’s perception and response.

As part of the iterative design and assessment process, mitigation measures designed to avoid or minimise potential impacts were also prepared.

"“The masterplan promotes a holistic view to the development of Scholes, including the creation of a new village centre, school and library facilities, improved public transport, new recreation areas and a 50-hectare community woodland planted as a legacy for future generations. As a client, I have been pleased with the service provided by Gillespies and would have no hesitation in recommending them to prospective clients.”"

Chris Gilman, Managing Director at GMI Property Company