North East & Yorkshire

Chapel Hill project finally nears completion

 An exciting project to transform a row of empty shops dating from 1908 into twenty-two apartments is almost complete in Morley Bottoms, Leeds.

Main contractors Mansell plc and architects Brewster Bye Architects are carrying out the £2.9m project for Yorkshire Housing. The development has been carried out in a funding partnership between Leeds City Council, Yorkshire Housing, Aire Valley Homes Leeds and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The Chapel Hill development comprises a mixture of one and two-bedroom units, all of which have been designed to achieve the Code for Sustainable Homes level 3 and Secured by Design standards.

Although the building is situated on the perimeter of the conservation area, a traditional palette of materials has been selected. Interestingly, Brewster Bye Architects have fused the conventional stone and brickwork exterior with the decidedly modern interior, illustrating an innovative modern take on the traditional vernacular buildings.

The apartments are single or double aspect and feature modern, high quality kitchens with contemporary laminate flooring. In addition, the bathrooms are decorated to hotel specification and feature tiling from floor to ceiling.

Councillor Peter Gruen, Leeds City Council’s Executive Board member for neighbourhoods and housing, said: “It is exciting to see how Morley Bottoms will look once work has been completed on this development. The Chapel Hill apartments will compliment the regeneration of the area and further demonstrates the commitment from both the council and our partners to deliver the more affordable housing across Leeds, even in these difficult economic times.”

 Mark Henderson, Brewster Bye Architects, said: “The project is excellent news for the area and is a good example of housing for local people in the Morley area. Following extensive community consultation, the local councillors have been very supportive of the scheme.

“These projects take a long time to come into fruition and the building has been a long time in its gestation period. It will be with great relief and excitement that the scaffolding will be taken down and we will be able to see what we have created.”

It is expected that handover will take place prior to Christmas so that the residents can occupy the building in the New Year.

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