Points Cross development reaches new heights with topping out ceremony

United Living New Homes and The Guinness Partnership recently held a topping-out ceremony to celebrate a key milestone in the construction of the new Points Cross development in Leeds.

The special event marked the structure reaching the highest point of its construction and signals the excellent progress made on the project since starting work more than a year ago.

The topping-out ceremony was led by Project Director Stephen McManaman and Head of Development Delivery (North) at The Guinness Partnership, Greig Lees. During the event Stephen, Greig and Shebina Ahmad (Project Delivery Manager at The Guinness Partnership) installed the structure’s final piece, bringing the development another step closer to delivering much needed new homes for the people of Leeds.

The Points Cross scheme in West Yorkshire is funded through the Homes England Strategic Partnership Programme, with additional grant funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) through the government’s Brownfield Housing Fund (a programme designed to build more homes by unlocking and redeveloping brownfield land).

The project will see United Living New Homes deliver 311 residential homes (24 townhouses and 287 apartments) on behalf of the leading affordable housing provider, The Guinness Partnership. All the new homes will be affordable (shared ownership or social rent), providing much-needed affordable homes for people in Leeds. The scheme forms part of a major regeneration programme of the South Bank area of Leeds, which will provide over 8,000 new homes in total, with 928 of these homes approved at Points Cross.

Stephen McManaman, Project Director, United Living New Homes, said: “This is a really exciting milestone, not only for the Points Cross development but also for the regeneration of the South Bank area of Leeds, creating a new vibrant, sustainable community in Leeds. 

In addition to marking a significant build milestone, the topping-out event presented an opportunity to celebrate the truly collaborative approach all parties have taken in helping to bring this landmark project to fruition. We look forward to continuing to work together with our partners, The Guinness Partnership, to bring this project to completion next year.” 

Greig Lees, Head of Development Delivery (North), The Guinness Partnership, said: “Today marks an important point in the first phase of our development here at Points Cross. These first 311 homes will be affordable for local people to rent or buy, and will be energy efficient making them affordable for residents to live in. The scheme here in the heart of Leeds South Bank demonstrates our commitment to supporting Leeds City Council’s regeneration ambitions for the area and wouldn’t have been possible without grant funding from Homes England and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.” 

United Living New Homes and The Guinness Partnership are also working in close partnership with local Colleges including The Leeds College of Building, Leeds City College UTC Leeds and The Ruth Gorse Academy to support a cohort of apprentices, and work placements and the delivery of industry career sessions during the construction phase, which is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2023.