Leeds City Council’s decision to demolish six residential tower blocks has received final approval, as attempts to delay the decision for further review have been unsuccessful.
The tower blocks to be demolished include Bailey Towers, Brookland Towers, and Ramshead Heights in Seacroft; Leafield Towers in Moortown; and Raynville Court and Raynville Grange in Armley. The demolition is not expected to occur until around 2026, after all residents have been relocated.
Initially, the council’s senior leaders approved the decision last month, but it was put on hold when opposition councillors requested a review. This gave it a chance for reconsideration.
However, at a meeting on Monday, elected members voted nine to three in favor of the demolition. The council emphasized that the flats have reached the end of their useful life and are not practical to refurbish. Conservative councillor Barry Anderson, who led the call for a review, clarified that he was not opposing the demolition of the aging blocks.
Instead, he argued that the Labour administration had not adequately considered the “impact” of the decision or put plans in place to address it. Anderson expressed his concerns about the lack of comprehensive thinking and said, “We need the best for our tenants, not just the least worst. None of us are saying we should be refurbishing them, but we need to consider the impact of the demolition, which has not been thoroughly thought through.”