Agenda and minutes

  The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked Members and Officers to introduce themselves

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 purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct

  Applications 10/05607/FU/10/05608/FU and 10/0509/LI – The Majestic City Square LS1:

  Councillor Monaghan declared a personal interest as a member of Leeds Civic Trust which had commented on the application

  Councillors Campbell, Nash and Selby declared personal interests through being members of English Heritage which had been consulted on the application

  (minute 77 refers)

  Application 10/05541/FU – Leeds Metropolitan University City Campus – Councillor Monaghan declared a personal interest as a member of Leeds Civic Trust which had commented on the application (minute 78 refers)

  Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Castle who was substituted for by Councillor Ruth Feldman

To approve the minutes of the Plans Panel City Centre meeting held on 12^th January 2011

(minutes attached)

  RESOLVED -  That the minutes of the Plans Panel City Centre meeting held on 12^th January 2011 be approved

  The Head of Planning Services updated Members on the following matters:

  Southern entrance at Leeds Railway Station

  The Secretary of State for Transport had agreed to the provision of the southern entrance to the railway station at Leeds, with £12.4m of DfT funding being provided towards the total cost of approximately £14.4m

  Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme

  Reference was made to recent media reports regarding the future of the flood defence scheme for Leeds and a fact sheet was tabled for Members’ information.  It was disappointing that the scheme had been put on hold by DEFRA but further discussions were to take place with the Secretary of State and other funding options were being investigated

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on an application for change of use of basement bar to live music venue with ancillary bar, restaurant and nightclub use.   Change of use of ground floor and upper levels from nightclub to bar, restaurant and a range of assembly and leisure uses with associated external and internal alterations in association with the changes of use, including new window openings

(report attached)

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

  Officers presented the report which sought permission for change of use, alterations and refurbishment of the prestigious Grade II Listed Building known as the Majestic which was situated in City Square

  Members were informed that the proposed uses could also include uses within the D2 class, ie gym, exhibition space or cinema

  The proposed works were outlined for Members which included:

·  new windows along Quebec Street and Wellington Street to create greater activity and enlarged openings to windows to upper floors

·  new glass doors to main entrances and creation of a new entrance on Quebec Street

·  refurbishment of the Marmo faience facades

·  reintroduced art panels at ground floor level and reinstatement of the original glazing bar patterns to windows fronting City Square

·  new service entrance on Wellington Street with any necessary  extensions to TROs  relating to use of the nearby on-street loading bay by the proposed development being funded by the applicant

·  opening up of roof terrace for public use

·  slate screening of the rooftop plant

·  reinstatement of the proscenium arch

·  reinstatement of the external statuary

·  internal paint scheme which would be consistent with the 1921 building and would help reinstate the detail to the decorative plaster work

Receipt of two further representations were reported these being from

WYAAS, requesting recording after the soft strip out and prior to internal alterations, with a condition to this effect being added, and from the Victorian Society who had commented, although the period of the building was outside their remit.  They were supportive in principle but had made some detailed comments which were reported to Panel

  Members commented on the following matters:

·  the proposed statues and whether the style of these could be related to the Alfred Drury statues of maidens which were situated in City Square

·  that the statues should be of a style close to the originals

·  disabled toilet facilities and whether these would be provided on each level

·  that the sympathetic reinstatement of this historic building was welcomed as was the fact that it would be reopened to the public

·  that the signage should be of a style in keeping with the 1920s

·  that the applicant should be encouraged to retain the name of the building as ‘The Majestic’ and for it to be spelled correctly

·  the street lamps outside the building; that these were not sympathetic to it and that Conservation Area lamps might be more appropriate in this location

Officers provided the following responses:

·  that archive footage had been examined with a view to replicating the original statues, with this detail being controlled by condition

·  that a condition requiring the provision of disabled toilet facilities on each public level would be added to the permission

Members voiced their support for the scheme and expressed the hope

that work on it would commence as soon as possible

  RESOLVED -  To approve the application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on the redevelopment of university buildings to provide new student accommodation including refurbishment and new build, comprising 568 bedrooms, retail unit and landscaping

(report attached)

  Plans, drawings, photographs and graphics were displayed at the meeting

  Officers presented the report which sought permission for the major regeneration of part of the Leeds Metropolitan University city campus site, these being blocks F, G and H, which would provide student residential accommodation comprosing 568 bedrooms; a new retail unit; public square with enhanced pedestrian connectivity across the site and the enhancement of existing greenspace

A pre-application presentation on the proposals had been made to Members on 14^th October 2010 and a site visit had taken place.  Details of the issues raised in that presentation were included in the submitted report

  The proposals would see the removal of some of the existing buildings on the site, the retention, cleaning and repairing of the remaining buildings with some re-cladding in glass reinforced concrete at ground level to blocks F and H1

  The landscaping proposals would include a new tree-lined pedestrian route from Woodhouse Lane into the site and the provision of a public space to be known as Campus Square which would be on the site of block G which would be demolished.  Whilst some limited loss of trees would be necessary to provide accessibility, there would be re-provision of 32 new trees across the site

  Members were informed that the site was in a highly accessible location and that walking and cycling would be promoted as the means of transport.  The level of car parking would be rationalised, this being from 73 spaces to 44 spaces

  Officers were of the view that the proposals addressed the challenges posed by the site, particularly the changes in levels; that the scheme would provide new and refurbished buildings, new and enhanced greenspace together with improved connectivity and therefore recommended approval of the application to Panel

  Members commented on the following matters:

·  whether the proposals before Members represented the long-term vision for the site

·  whether the Section 106 money could be used to fund the free city bus which could lose funding due to the necessary cutbacks in expenditure by the Authority

·  the amount of greenspace being provided with concerns being raised that it might not be sufficient for the numbers wishing to use the area

·  the status in the UDPR (2006) of the area of greenspace outside the boundary of the site

·  the proximity of the Inner Ring Road to the site and the need to be satisfied that people were protected from unacceptable levels of pollution, especially when using the open area

·  that additional planting to screen the Inner Ring Road was required

·  that consideration should be given to having sedum roofs on the buildings

·  that the route into the site from the south on Woodhouse Lane was well used and that the desire line should be formalised with a path

·  the reduction in car parking and where the parking would be displaced to

Officers provided the following responses:

·  that the developer retained long-term aspirations for the site

·  that public transport contributions were set aside for major transport works such  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

Thursday 10^th March 2011 at 1.30pm

  Thursday 10^th March 2011 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds