November 2024 Good News Round-Up

New Chief Executive of Leeds City Council announced

After an extensive recruitment process, Ed Whiting OBE has been appointed as the new permanent Chief Executive of Leeds City Council. Ed was previously the Director of Cities and Local Growth in the Department for Business and Trade and Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. A Leeds native, Ed’s strong understanding of the city and its ambitions made him the top candidate and is expected to join early next year.

Back-to-back energy improvements Armley 

Leeds City Council is set to upgrade the energy efficiency of around 100 back-to-back terraced homes in the Cedars area of Armley. This £4.4 million scheme, starting in January, will include new insulation and replacement doors and windows. The goal is to make homes easier and cheaper to heat, reducing fuel poverty and cold-related illnesses. The project is part-funded by various partners, including the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and central government, with Equans as the delivery partner. The scheme aims to improve both council-owned and privately-owned homes, with completion expected by the end of 2025. 

Leeds PIPES

Leeds’s South Bank will benefit from more affordable and lower carbon heating thanks to a £24.5m funding boost for the Leeds PIPES district heating network. This expansion will connect up to 28 buildings, benefiting around 8,000 residents and mixed-use customers. The project uses heat recovered from non-recyclable domestic waste, helping to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and supporting Leeds’s goal to become the UK’s first net zero city. Last year, the network saved 5,945 tonnes of carbon. This expansion is the largest single investment in the project to date.

Leeds Creative Skills Festival

The Leeds Creative Skills Festival 2024 was held at the Royal Armouries for the first time. The event took place on the 18th of November and attracted around 2,700 visitors from across West Yorkshire. There was a vibrant atmosphere at the event and the event has been met with positive feedback from both exhibitors and attendees. 

£200 million Flood alleviation scheme construction completed

The Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme led by Leeds City Council in partnership with the Environment Agency has now been completed. Using state-of-the-art engineering and infrastructure the project will now deliver flood protection to more than 4,000 homes and over a thousand businesses along the River Aire catchment in Leeds and neighbouring communities.