At a glance

Leeds Jewish Housing Association (LJHA) has opened 28 new affordable homes for families in north Leeds, completing the second phase of a housing scheme supported by Homes England. The development includes a mix of two and three-bedroom homes and marks a significant improvement from the previous 1950s properties. The project was made possible with support from the Marcia and Andrew Brown Charitable Trust and the Sheffield Jewish Housing Association, and aims to revitalise the local community by welcoming new families to the area.

Leeds Jewish Housing Association (LJHA) has formally opened a development of 28 new affordable properties for families in the north of the city.

The construction of 14 two-bed and 12 three-bed homes, a two-bed apartment and a one-bed adapted ground floor apartment on the Queenshill estate marks the completion of the second phase of a two-part Leeds LJHA scheme part-funded by Homes England.

The first phase - made up of 51 sheltered housing apartments for residents aged 55 and over, and 34 general needs apartments - opened in 2022.

The ceremonial ribbon was cut by joint guests of honour Marcia Brown and her daughters Katie Taylor and Samantha Walton, who are all trustees of the Marcia and Andrew Brown Charitable Trust which provided invaluable support to the development.

They were joined by LJHA board members past and present, project partners, LJHA residents and other special guests.

Addressing the gathering, LJHA Chief Executive Mark Grandfield thanked residents for their patience during the construction process. “What we’re finishing today is 113 properties, so you can see the difference we’ve made,” he said. “The previous properties were built in the 1950s. They weren’t the right homes, but they were definitely in the right place. Taking the decision to demolish people’s homes and rebuild was difficult, but it was the right one. We recognise the significant upheaval that they went through but hope they were comforted by the fact that we were able to honour our promise of rehousing every resident who wished to remain with LJHA.”

He praised the local community for their financial backing which enabled the scheme to be delivered, commenting: “A number of community members supported us. Marcia and Andrew Brown came and saw what this project might mean for the community. We will be eternally grateful for the tremendous support the Trust showed to turn this into reality.”

And he had a special word for Sheffield Jewish Housing Association which, prior to its closure, was able to redirect a Homes England grant to LJHA to bolster the new development. “We’re very grateful to Martin at Sheffield Jewish,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, the LJHA Chief Executive added: “The magic starts toward the end of September when everybody moves in, adding vitality to the Queenshill estate, bringing a new generation of families forward and really putting some more energy back into the community. And that was the whole point. As we celebrate what we’ve achieved, I’m really looking forward to seeing how it pans out in the next few years.”

Andrew Pliener, Chair of the LJHA Board, also paid warm tribute to the Brown family for their assistance, adding: “this wouldn’t happen without that help and that commitment.”

He said: “Living with a construction site is not easy and we really appreciate the support of the residents. We really look forward to meeting the new families who are moving in very shortly.”

Marcia Brown said she and her daughters Katie and Samantha were honoured to be present. She told guests: “This project is reality, thanks obviously to all of you. What an amazing achievement. We’re so happy to be able to support Leeds Jewish Housing Association with the wonderful work that you do, it’s just amazing to see this new development.”

Affixing a mezuzah (small case containing sacred scripture) to one of the new homes, Rabbi Anthony Gilbert said everyone had come to the opening “to witness the fulfilment of a dream.”

He continued: “I call this the affixing of the mezuzah, but the consecration is a very positive light of this phase of the Leeds Jewish Housing Association. I’m familiar with the history and I’m truly honoured and take it as a great privilege to affix a mezuzah to a door of a property that was the work and the vision of Leeds Jewish Housing Association.”

Following the ribbon cutting, guests joined LJHA residents to enjoy a celebratory family fun day featuring a host of attractions including a bouncy castle, face painting and a wide variety of stalls.

Editorial insight

The completion of this new phase of family homes by Leeds Jewish Housing Association reflects ongoing efforts to address the need for affordable housing in the city, particularly within established community settings. While the scheme is local in scale, it demonstrates the role of housing associations in delivering targeted developments that respond to both demographic shifts and the practical needs of residents, especially as older post-war properties are replaced with modern, energy-efficient alternatives.

For families in North Leeds, the availability of these new homes is likely to have a direct impact on quality of life and community stability. The scheme also highlights the importance of partnership funding, with support from Homes England and local charitable trusts proving instrumental. Such developments remain a key part of wider strategies to increase affordable housing supply in urban areas, where demand continues to outstrip availability for many lower- and middle-income households.

Story ideas and journalist angles

Business growth

Role of Philanthropy in Housing Development

Explore the significance of philanthropic contributions in housing projects, focusing on the involvement of the Marcia and Andrew Brown Charitable Trust in the Leeds Jewish Housing Association's recent development.

Target audience business magazines, philanthropy journals, regional business sections Story potential 6/10 Property/development

Regeneration of Post-War Housing Estates in the UK

Investigate the broader trend of redeveloping post-war housing estates in the UK, using the LJHA's Queenshill estate project as a case study. Discuss the implications for urban planning and community development.

Target audience urban planning publications, national newspapers, architecture blogs Story potential 8/10