Keyland sells Templegate stake to JV partner

Evans Property Group has acquired the interest that Yorkshire Water’s sister company held in the business, which was set up to develop the 170-acre Skelton Gate site close to Leeds.

Near Junction 45 of the M1, Skelton Gate, is a former open-cast colliery site, where to date the partnership of Evans and Keyland has secured planning permission for 1,100 homes, a school, open space, local centre retail and a foodstore.

Those phases make up phases one and two, and a third application is currently in the works, which, if approved could provide an additional 700 homes and infrastructure.

Covering 27 acres, phase one was sold in 2022, with Avant Homes, Vistry and Evans Homes (an Evans group business) now progressing a combined 415 homes.

The intention is for the 31-acre phase two to be sold fully serviced to a housebuilder. Earlier this year, Savills was tasked with finding a taker for the site.

A £20m Home Building Fund loan from Homes England is funding the delivery of infrastructure and ground preparation works for all phases at Skelton Gate.

Peter Garrett, managing director of Keyland Developments, said; “At Keyland our focus is on the early stages of the development process, using our expertise to secure planning consents on complex sites and to overcome obstacles to development.

“We are incredibly proud of our work unlocking the Skelton Gate site for development to enable a major contribution to the Leeds City Region in terms of new homes, community amenities and the job creation throughout the construction and development phases.

“Passing on our interest in this project to our partners at Evans will allow us to concentrate our efforts on our growing Planning Promotional Agreement (PPA) business and on unlocking further opportunities from Yorkshire Water’s 70,000 acre land portfolio.”

Rob Marshall, UK managing director of Evans Property Group, said; “The Skelton Gate site is one of the most significant in the Leeds City Region and our successful, long-term partnership with Keyland Developments has brought the scheme to an exciting stage.”

Marshall thanked Keyland for its work on the partnership, adding: “By acquiring 100% of Phase 2 and 3 we have secured a significant pipeline for Evans Homes as we continue to grow that business, adding to existing sites at Tockwith and Skelton, and future sites at Whinmoor and Brayton.”

The sale price was undisclosed.