PLANS have been lodged to redevelop the site of a former funeral directors in Pudsey to build supported living housing for people with learning disabilities and autism.

The scheme at Wheaters Fold, Stanningley, would involve demolishing the vacant building that housed a funeral directors and chapel of rest, and building 12 one-bedroom flats and eight one-bedroom bungalows.

The move has been backed by NHS bosses at Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group, referring to Eden Futures, an organisation which supports people with learning disabilities, autism, mental ill health and associated complex needs.

In a letter accompanying the application, Kashif Ahmed, head of commissioning (mental health and learning disabilities) states: "Leeds has identified a gap of service provision in particularly for those individuals whom require support services for people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental ill-health and associated complex needs, including those with a forensic or offending background.

"Leeds requires further services brackets enhanced providers and specialist accommodation to be developed in the local area to support out of area placements and equally the number of residential placements currently being utilised. Leeds also requires an alternative to hospital admission for this cohort of individuals with a step up/down provision to avoid hospital admission and equally, if an inpatient, to promote a persons discharge pathway.

"The lack of this type of housing provider provision has a significant impact on the ability in particular of the mental health service to meet the needs of people within our service the proposed scheme in Leeds will be a great asset to the service and assist enabling peoples recovery."

In a design and access statement accompanying the plans to Leeds Council, it details how the 0.66 acre site has an orchard to the south which has a restrictive covenant attached to it preventing development - although it does allow for this space to be used as garden.

A former house on the site was converted to a funeral directors, which was its most recent use until 2014. There are also various outbuildings, including single storey garages and warehouses.

It adds: "The application scheme provides a real opportunity to enhance the site, provide much needed assisted living housing and improve the appearance of the site. The site is located in the centre of a residential and commercial area where there are local amenities, good access roads and transport links. This dictates the proposed site being suitable for a residential development however there is no allocation of the site from a planning point of view."

The development involves building eight standalone bungalows and 12 apartments over three storeys and would be surrounded by landscaped areas. The buildings would be positioned to the north and middle of the site and the existing access used.

The bungalows and flats will be 24 hour assisted living units and will require 32 staff working on shift patterns.