Plans are moving forward on a landmark modular housing scheme in Leeds.

Leeds City Council and main contractor United Living submitted a planning application for the development. If approved, it will become the UK's biggest fully modular council housing and apartment scheme.

A total of 28 homes will be constructed in less than nine months at Leeds Meynell in Holbeck. They will comprise of 14 apartments across two blocks, alongside ten individual two-bedroom homes and four, three-bedroom homes.

Manufacturing is to begin on the new homes in late spring 2019 ahead of the first residents moving in by early 2020.

Helen Francis, business development director (North) for United Living, said: "We're incredibly excited to begin the construction phase of what will be our first fully modular development. Without compromising on quality, the speed of delivery will really set this project aside and – with radical solutions needed to fix the UK's national housing shortage – this could be a trailblazer for others to follow. If all goes to plan, from concept to completion we're looking at almost halving the time it would take to construct these homes through traditional methods.

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"We're also currently progressing talks with a number of Yorkshire-based schools and colleges to deliver work placements during the build phase of this project. These placements will be a great opportunity for United Living, Leeds City Council, and our partners on this scheme to introduce the next generation to modern methods of construction."

Premier Modular will support the development, producing each entire module off-site, adding brickwork cladding, roofing, and placing the finishing touches to the exterior frames before transportation to Leeds. William Saunders Architects is also delivering its expertise on the scheme.

Eugenio De Sa, managing director for Premier Modular, commented: "We're excited to be involved in this first prestigious pilot scheme for Leeds City Council. This project gives us the opportunity to showcase how using off-site construction can reduce programme schedules, as well as the quality of construction that can be achieved. The choice of modular housing means that the Council will have reassurance that the scheme will be delivered on time and to an extremely high quality.

"Working in partnership with United Living we look forward to meeting and surpassing the Council's expectations by providing them with a new community of housing that their residents will be proud to live in."

(CM/JG)