Moor Road Apartments – Leeds

Bowman Riley has designed a new residential development on the site of a long-neglected former children’s home on Moor Road in Headingley, Leeds.

The redevelopment will transform the Georgian villas that formed the St Margaret’s children’s home on Moor Road into 30 modern apartments, breathing new life into a building that has been vacant for years and has been the victim of vandalism.

Several years ago, we worked on options for the site in collaboration with Catholic Care and Westward Care, aiming to develop an independent living scheme for older adults. This experience laid the foundation for our client, IQW Developments, to approach us for our expertise in bringing a fresh, new vision to the site.

The project will involve selective demolition to remove later additions to the existing villas that were deemed unsympathetic to the original design, while preserving the cherished woodland and terrace gardens that front the buildings. The plan also includes five affordable homes as part of an agreement with Leeds City Council, ensuring the development meets the city’s housing needs while maintaining the area’s character.

Despite some local opposition over concerns such as road safety and the potential impact on the conservation area, the project received planning consent. We highlighted the benefits of providing much-needed housing for Leeds, with parking solutions that were both sensible and necessary given the location.

This exciting transformation promises to turn a neglected site into a vibrant new community in one of Leeds’ most desirable neighbourhoods.

Images credit: zvaa

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