Eyesore Seacroft flats flattened as council looks to build more homes

Demolition work is in full swing at an eyesore complex of empty flats as Leeds City Council pushes forward with plans to transform the site with new-build affordable homes.

- by Charles Brown

Coun Mary Harland, Leeds City Council's executive member for housing, at the former Kingsdale Court flats complex in Seacroft.

The Kingsdale Court complex, in the Boggart Hill area of Seacroft, was for many years blighted by poor housing conditions and dwindling occupancy levels, as well as issues linked to crime and antisocial behaviour.

Conscious of the impact the problems were having on the lives of local residents, the council decided it should seek to undertake a comprehensive regeneration of the site.

Key to this was the acquisition of Kingsdale Court's 88 flats - all of which were privately owned - along with its freehold and associated management rights. The acquisitions process - which involved lengthy negotiations with dozens of individual property owners - was concluded last May, with the current demolition programme getting under way in October.