Provisional designs for part of a new development in Leeds have been branded “plain” and likened to a budget supermarket range.

The development could see 130 low-cost homes built on an old industrial site on Kirkstall Road.

Work on the scheme could begin as early as next March, if it’s approved later this year as developers hope.

The empty site, which sits on crossroads a stone’s throw away from the Kirkstall Road viaduct, was abandoned by the engineering conglomerate Thyssen Krupp after the devastating Boxing Day floods of 2015.

But city councillors were split over the proposed appearance of the new homes, after see-ing images of how they may look at a planning meeting on Thursday.

The site would feature two apartments blocks, which would include 87 flats between them, and 43 houses. All 130 units would be classed as affordable.

Labour councillor Al Garthwaite was critical of how the houses have been designed.

She told representatives of the developers, Your Housing Group: “Just because it’s affordable, it doesn’t have to look quite as plain.

“It’s reminiscent to me of the ‘no frills’ range in the supermarket.”

Representatives for the applicants said they’d take the comments “on board” and indicated the designs could be adjusted accordingly.