Merry Christmas!

Leeds City Council thinks that while you’re enjoying your turkey, you’ll be too busy to notice that they’re planning to extinguish the statutory trust in which the fields are held for public recreation.

You might have commented recently on the Leeds Local Plan, but this requires a completely separate objection, sent no later than 16th January 2026.

Easy instructions to object

  1. Email Edward.Rowland@leeds.gov.uk
  2. Use the subject Objection to disposal of Red Hall Playing Fields, reference L&P/EJR/PS-DO-0432-16805E
  3. Object to the disposal of the fields, and say that they are held in trust for the public. Here’s an example email:

Dear Mr Rowland,

I object to the proposed disposal of Red Hall Playing Fields and the extinguishing of the statutory trust in which they are held for public recreation, reference L&P/EJR/PS-DO-0432-16805E. Thousands of houses are being built in the surrounding area and the fields are the last piece of significant public space in the area, the historic gardens to Red Hall House. They must not be sold to be leased back to the public by a development company.

Sincerely,

<Your Name>

Alternatively, you can object in writing:

Objections to the proposed disposal must be made before 16 January 2026 and must be made in writing and addressed to Edward Rowland, Principal Land and Property Officer, Asset Management and Regeneration, City Development, Leeds City Council, Merrion House, 110 Merrion Centre, Leeds, LS2 8BB or by email to Edward.Rowland@leeds.gov.uk quoting reference L&P/EJR/PS-DO-0432-16805EG.

Here’s where they state that new objections must be received separately from the recent allocations consultation:

The council’s intention to dispose of the land is separate from both the proposal to allocate part of the land for development for housing pursuant to the Leeds Local Plan and from the planning application to develop the land (reference 21/04468/FU). Anybody who wishes to object to the proposed disposal of the land must do so as set out above.

Merry Christmas. I wish I were writing this on a day other than Christmas day, but this is where we are. I hope we can continue to hold onto community assets like these in 2026.