A completely derelict Victorian villa in Harehills has been turned into new homes for Leeds homeless, thanks to charity Latch (Leeds Action to Create Houses).
A £375,000 investment has seen the creation of four new, modern flats inside the sprawling, dilapidated house, now comprised of three one-beds and one two-bed flat.
These will now become homes for some of the city's most vulnerable residents, who will be supported by the charity to turn their lives around as they take steps towards more independent living.
Made possible thanks to support from Leeds City Council, Power to Change, and the Clothworkers Foundation. the renovation took around a year to complete.
A complete wreck at the start of the project, the team had to completely remodel and transform the house.
There was no heating or hot water, the roof was leaking and the windows were broken - but it has now been rewired, re-painted, plastered, theremall insulated and sound proofed by the Latch team.
"All the windows and doors have been replaced and new kitchens and bathrooms have been installed," explains James Hartley, CEO of Latch.
"The property has also been fully furnished to provide the new tenants with everything they need to make a fresh new start."
The charity is now busy assessing applications for the new homes.
There is an enormous demand for properties in Leeds from those who are homeless or in urgent housing need, with over 5,500 people currently homeless or living in poor quality housing.
It is estimated that there is a further 3,500 derelict, privately-owned and empty properties in the city ripe for projects like this.
Projects such as this play a vital role in tackling growing homelessness in the city.
Latch hopes to raise a further £350,000 this summer towards the costs of purchasing another six properties over the coming months and years, with funding also being sought from other grants and businesses.
Leeds
Beloved local bakery set to expand with a new Chapel Allerton cafe
Bluebird Bakery, a firm favourite for freshly-baked loaves and cakes in Leeds, has announced it's opening a brand new cafe.
The much-loved local business has been trading out of Kirkgate Market for almost a decade, selling hand-crafted loaves and loads of other beautiful bakes.
Bluebird Bakery already has locations dotted all around Yorkshire, including in York (where founders Al and Nicky Kippax launched the business from their kitchen table), Beverley, and Holmfirth.
And now they've announced big plans for a second location here in Leeds, setting their sights on Chapel Allerton.
The Bluebird Bakery team said they hope the 'West Yorkshire appetite for our loaves and cakes will continue into this vibrant suburb'.
They're taking over a site on Stainbeck Lane, where we'll all be able to tuck into bread, cakes and pastries, plus coffees from Roost Coffee.
And there'll even be outside seating at the new Bluebird Cafe too.
Bluebird Bakery is expanding with another Leeds cafeBluebird Bakery currently operates from Kirkgate Market in Leeds
Sharing the news on Instagram, they wrote: "Big news. We are thrilled to announce that we are opening a shop and cafe in Chapel Allerton this summer.
"We love our Leeds Kirkgate Market shop and we hope the West Yorkshire appetite for our loaves and cakes will continue into this vibrant suburb, which is full of independent businesses like ours.
"We’ll be based on Stainbeck Lane where there’ll be both inside & outside seating, brilliant @roost_coffee and all the bread, cakes and pastries Chapel Allerton can eat!
"We’re recruiting soon - so do keep an eye on our socials if you’re a brilliant barista, an experienced cafe assistant or a hands-on supervisor.
Yorkshire house hunters wanted as UK’s biggest property show returns for new series
Emily Sergeant
Looking to move house? Finding the house hunting process a lot harder than you thought it would be though?
Well, this could be the helping hand you need.
The UK's biggest property show, Location, Location, Location - which has been a fixture in Channel 4’s schedule for more than 20 years at this point - is looking for house hunters from across Yorkshire for the new series.
First airing all the way back in 2000, if you've never seen Location, Location, Location, it's fronted by presenters and property experts Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer who head all across the UK to help buyers in search for their dream home.
Despite being on our TV screens for 26 years at this point, Kirstie and Phil have never tired in their efforts to match the nation’s hopeful house hunters with their perfect home.
For its next series being filmed this May, Channel 4 are now looking for individuals, families, and couples from across Yorkshire - Leeds and Sheffield in particular - who need Kirstie and Phil's expertise to find their next home.
The UK's biggest property show is coming to Manchester and needs house hunters for its new series / Credit: James Feaver (via Unsplash)
Whether you're upsizing, downsizing, first timer buyers, or looking for a forever home, Channel 4 wants to hear from you.
"We are casting for the new series, and we are interested in hearing from chain free (or SSTC) house hunters who would be ready to buy in May this year," a spokesperson for Channel 4 said as the casting call was announced.
"Applications are now open and we're looking for individuals, families and couples who need Kirstie and Phil's expertise to buy their dream home."
Anyone interested in appearing on Location, Location, Location can apply on the Channel 4 website here.
Applications will be received by a member of IWC Media and they will contact you directly if they wish to take your it any further.
Georgina Pellant -
24th May 2021 
