Councillors have approved the UK's first affordable ecological and co-operative housing project which will be based in Bramley.
LILAC, a community-based co-operative society received glowing plaudits for its £3 million plan to build 20 affordable eco-homes and a common house from straw and timber in the west Leeds suburb. They plan to start building 12 flats and eight houses on the former Wyther Park Primary School site this summer and move in by mid 2012.
Councillors on the west plans panel yesterday welcomed the plans. Chairman Neil Taggart said:
"People will come to look at this development from far and wide - people livng near this could well be plagued by tourists. It is a signature scheme and I wish it every success."
One of the co-founders and current secretary of the society, Paul Chatterton, also a geography lecturer from Leeds University, said:
"This is marvellous news and testimony to the years of hard work from our members and wonderful support from the council and local community. This is great recognition for a simple but a forgotten idea – that we can build houses that are affordable while also protecting our environment and building a strong sense of community – and right here in Leeds."
LILAC plans to use an innovative construction system called Modcell which puts strawbales inside a timber frame to create super-insulated wall panels. The project is committed to building with Modcell because the straw will be sourced from Yorkshire farmers, bills will be reduced by around 80 per cent and an average three-bed house will lock up nearly 50 tonnes of carbon emissions.
After five years of work, the member-led LILAC project (which means Low Impact Living Affordable Community) has a £410,000 grant from the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) under their belt, along with a major Social Enterprise Award, LILAC plans to start building this summer.
Other decisions made by the panel
Councillors also approved the following applications:
Two detached houses and double garages at Cragg Wood Nurseries, Cragg Wood Drive, Rawdon; Listed building application to part demolish and alter agricultural buildings to form terrace houses at Throstle Nest Farm, Otley; Change of use of storage barn to offices/toliets and extensions to abattoir at Low Green Farm, Leeds Road, Rawdon.
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