Agenda and minutes

  The Chair welcomed everyone to this Extraordinary meeting of Plans Panel East.  He particularly welcomed the new members of the Panel and asked the Chief Planning Officer to circulate to them some planning documents for example the Householder Design Guide and Core Strategy, which would be useful when considering applications

To declare any personal / prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

  The following Members declared personal/prejudicial interests for the purposes of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct:

  Councillor McKenna and Councillor Procter both declared personal interests through being members of the East Leeds Regeneration Board which had discussed the proposals (minute 4 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence.

  Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Finnigan

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer relating to a pre-application presentation for the laying out of access and erection of circa 2,000 dwellings, community facilities and associated transport infrastructure on land between Wetherby Road and York Road (the ‘Northern Quadrant’ of the East Leeds Extension)

(report attached)

This is a pre-application presentation and no formal decision on the development will be taken, however it is an opportunity for Panel Members to ask questions, raise issues, seek clarification and comment on the proposals at this stage.  There is no opportunity for public speaking about the proposals outlined in the presentation

  Members considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer detailing pre-application proposals for a major mixed-use development on land between Wetherby Road and York Road – the ‘Northern Quadrant’ of the East Leeds Extension.  The Panel also received a presentation on behalf of the developers

  Plans, photographs, drawings and graphics were displayed at the meeting.  A site visit had taken place earlier in the day which Members had attended

  The Chief Planning Officer introduced the report and highlighted the importance of the scheme for the city as a whole, for the existing communities in this area and for the people who would live and work in this new development

  Mr Crabtree stressed that the presentation and discussions at the meeting were without prejudice to the application process but provided an opportunity to consider the proposals, seek clarification on matters and offer comments on the details presented to Members

Particular attention was drawn to section 8.0 of the report and the recommendations that arose from the meeting of the East Leeds Regeneration Board of 14^th May 2012.

  The background to the sites coming forward was outlined, ie the decision taken by Executive Board to release Phase 2 and 3 housing sites, particularly in view of the adverse outcome of recent planning appeal decisions on sites in the city

Several key issues were outlined for particular attention; these being

·  highways and the existing problems in the area

·   the East Leeds Orbital Road (ELOR); the nature of this and its role in relieving traffic pressures in the area and if this could be provided ahead of the development

·  the timing and phasing of the proposals; the housing mix and whether specialist provision for older people should be considered

·  education provision and the need for both primary and secondary provision as part of the scheme

·  landscaping and green spaces

The Panel then received a presentation on behalf of the developers

Members were informed that a consortium had been formed which

included the three landowners of the areas of land comprising the whole, 100 hectare site.  Whilst the Phase 3 housing allocation also included Redhall, this area did not form part of the scheme being presented

  In respect of the ELOR, it was stated that planning policy did not preclude the development from coming forward in phases and did not require the ELOR to be in place at the outset

  In terms of timing, Members were informed that the development was being brought forward at this time to meet housing needs in the area

  The design process was outlined with the Panel being informed that local context which included an understanding of how residents in the area used the existing facilities; their transport usage and architectural details of the surrounding areas of Shadwell, Thorner and Scholes had all been considered as had the positioning of utilities and the topography of the site

  The aspirations of the community had been considered as part of two exhibition/consultations, with the first one showing the basic principles to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Thursday 7^th June 2012 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds

  Thursday 7^th June 2012 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds