Build-to-Rent developer and operator, PLATFORM_, has submitted a Reserved Matters application to Leeds City Council for the detailed design of the next phase of its Sweetfields development in the South Bank regeneration area of Leeds.
The application follows the granting of outline planning permission in November 2023 for 1,351 homes and 200,000 sq ft of commercial space across the 1.3 million sq ft neighbourhood.
The Reserved Matters submission represents a significant milestone in the delivery of the 1.3 million sq ft mixed-use masterplan, reaffirming PLATFORM_’s long-term commitment to Leeds and the ongoing regeneration of the South Bank area, one of the UK’s most ambitious city centre transformation projects.
This latest phase will deliver 541 new BtR apartments across two buildings, comprising of a mix of studio, one, two and three-bedroom homes designed to appeal to a wide demographic. This follows phase one, which comprises 451 BtR homes with extensive amenities, an Asda Express and a pub. These homes recently topped out and are scheduled for completion in January 2027.
The first of the two buildings features two blocks ranging in height from eight to 17 storeys, while the second is a standalone 23-storey tower. Residents will benefit from a comprehensive range of amenities, including resident lounges, a gym, co-working spaces, private dining rooms and elevated external terraces.
The proposals are underpinned by a landscaped, pedestrian-focused public realm, and will feature biodiverse planting with the addition of 223 new trees across the wider Sweetfields site.
Designed with sustainability at its core, all homes are targeting EPC B as standard. The buildings will incorporate 4,090 sq ft of green roof space and 3,477 sq ft of photovoltaic panels to generate on-site renewable energy. Energy-efficient air source and VRF heat pumps will provide hot water, heating, and cooling, while the development is also futureproofed for connection to the Leeds PIPES District Heating Network.
The wider Sweetfields masterplan represents a £500million investment in Leeds and will deliver 1,351 BtR homes alongside 200,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, new leisure and retail opportunities, and the restoration of the historic Commercial Inn.
Jean-Marc Vandevivere, CEO of PLATFORM_, said: “Sweetfields embodies our vision to create a new benchmark for Build-to-Rent living; design-led, sustainable and well-connected. The submission of this planning application marks another important step forward in bringing this landmark development to life and delivering essential new homes and lasting benefit for the city of Leeds.”
Matt Willcock, development director at PLATFORM_, said: “The design of these buildings has been carefully refined in collaboration with Leeds City Council and key stakeholders to ensure we deliver exceptional quality homes within a landscape-led environment. This phase continues our ambition to create a thriving, inclusive neighbourhood that contributes positively to the city’s South Bank regeneration.”
