SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Cardiarms wrote: http://goo.gl/maps/aq10 Interesting, it looks like an unfinished road from the aerial image, a little different on street view though. Larkhill Green is a little like that, but not quite as longhttp://goo.gl/maps/CbRB    

When these housing estates were built, I believe there was a regulation to build in fire breaks. So if the street had a house fire it wouldn't spread, as the old through roof terraces would. Also to provide access to the fire and ambulances.

I don't think it's anything so dramatic - it's just a grassed area between the houses for kids to play on away from the road. It's a good use of space too - if the houses that front onto the grassed area faced onto the surrounding road instead they look like they'd still fit (just!), but they'd have huge rear gardens that would be of no use to anyone but the occupants of the respective houses. This way you still have the same number of houses, plus a small amenity between them. Don't forget that few people had cars when these estates were built too, so parking wasn't an issue.There are lots of spaces like this on the council estates of the time.Here's a similar arrangement in Seacroft (note the similar design of houses): http://goo.gl/maps/0dXa like Phill's example above.It stems from a time when planners actually thought about the people who'd be living on a development and made sure they'd have amenities and space - not like now when they just squeeze as many mock Tudor executive dwellings on a site as they can get away with...    

To be honest I surprised the residents haven't demanded tarmac to park their cars on.