About Skelton Gate

Overview

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Skelton Gate is a modern residential development located in East Leeds, offering a mix of housing options for families, first-time buyers, and professionals. The estate is part of the larger Skelton Grange area, benefiting from excellent transport links and proximity to local amenities. A short drive away from Leeds City Centre, and minutes away from Skelton Lake, part of which is an RSPB nature reserve, and the historic Temple Newsam grounds.

Development

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The estate is currently being developed by several reputable housebuilders:

• Avant Homes - Greenlock Place
• Evans Homes - Skelton Lakes
• Countryside Homes (Vistry) - Newsam Rise

Phases 1a (Evans and Vistry) and 1b (Avant) of the estate are currently under construction and consist of 438 homes in total.

Taylor Wimpey has submitted planning application (25/02886/RM) to develop phases 2a (108 houses - south of Beckside Way, north of the beck), 2b (173 houses - south of the beck), and 2c (89 houses - south of Countryside homes, nearest the waste management site), adding a total of 370 homes. Full approval has not yet been granted, but work on phase 2 is expected to start during 2027. Phase 2c will also include additional park areas in the strip of land in line with the electricity pylons.

A future phase 3 (700 homes) is also planned on the land between the waste management site and Skelton lake. It is understood there are some significant challenges to developing that land however.

The land south of Pontefract Lane and north of Beckside Way is earmarked for a local centre (shops, a proposed GP surgery and community centre) and a primary school — see the Development Phases page for the latest status of these.

Leeds City Development map (or click the link below to expand)

Current Phase

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Phase 1 is currently in its mature phase, with many properties now occupied. New residents continue to move into the remaining available plots, and the community continues to grow and establish itself. Phase 1 is expected to be complete by mid 2027.

See the Development Phases page for a breakdown of build progress across all phases.

Future Plans

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Future enhancements for the Skelton Gate community may include:

• Hill Park - A larger public park planned for the strip of land under the electricity pylons to the south of the estate, expected for completion by the end of 2027. A planning application (24/05619/RM) covering landscaping for Hill Park has been submitted — see Local Planning for the current status. A separate, smaller park is also planned off Kielder Crescent, on the Avant side.
• Community Hub - A dedicated space for resident meetings and activities.
• Children’s play areas - There is no play area on the estate yet. A small one is planned off Kielder Crescent on the Avant side, and Phase 2 is due to include a second. Until then, the nearest is at Skelton Lake Services.

History

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The estate stands on ground that was mined for the best part of two centuries, and the landscape around it. During the open-cast mining period in the 1990’s, the River Aire was straightened to run more parallel to the Aire and Calder navigation canal, and Skelton Lake was created. The M1 to A1 link section of the motorway the estate sits off opened in 1999 — more recent than most people expect. See the History page for the full story and a timeline running from the Domesday Book to the present day.

About This Website

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This website is run by a Skelton Gate resident in their spare time, as a volunteer project — it isn’t affiliated with the developers, the management company or Leeds City Council. Hosting the site and running Skelton, our AI assistant, costs a little each month. If the site has been useful and you’d like to chip in, you can buy me a coffee on Ko-fi — no obligation at all, and the site stays free for everyone regardless.