A CONSULTATION on slashing the housing target for Leeds is expected to begin this week.

Leeds City Council is planning to cut the target from 70,000 new homes by 2028 to 51,952 homes by 2033. This week councillors were set to approve a six-week consultation on the revised figures as part of a selective review of the city’s Core Strategy.

Subject to executive board approval the public consultation will take place from February 9 to March 23 with the results and feedback received being put to the government for its consideration.

The Core Strategy was adopted in November 2014 but is now being revised to take into account the latest figures and new government guidelines. The council says the additional five-year delivery period will offer further flexibility to respond to levels of housing need in the city over time.

The revised figure has been agreed and put forward for public consultation by the council’s cross-party development plan panel.

Running alongside the Core Strategy review, the council is currently carrying out public consultation on proposals which it says will protect 33 housing sites in green belt areas of the city from being developed for new housing. To take part go to www.leeds.gov.uk/yourcity. Response forms are also available at all council-managed libraries and one stop centres.

Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Councillor Richard Lewis said: "This revised housing figure for the city is now ready to go out for the people of Leeds to consider after being discussed at length as we said we would do as part of the Core Strategy review.

"It takes into account the latest information and government guidelines on future housing need, so will help give Leeds a clear plan-led approach guiding all future development, with the right houses being built in the places where they are needed.

"The consultation on protecting our green belt areas from unnecessary development is also hugely important so I’d encourage as many people as possible to get involved in that and tell us what they think."