Agenda and minutes

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

No formal late items of business were added to the agenda, Members were in receipt of supplementary information relating to the proposals for the former Alf Cooke Printworks (minute 41 refers)

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:

Councillors Campbell and Selby – Update on the First White Cloth Hall – declared personal interests as members of English Heritage which had been involved in the work to progress the reclamation project from the beginning. (minute 42 refers)

Councillor A Castle declared a personal interest in all the items on the agenda as a member of Leeds Civic Trust as the Civic Trust had commented on the proposals contained within all the applications

Councillor Campbell – redevelopment proposals for the Merrion Centre and proposals for the former Alf Cooke Printworks – declared a personal interest in both applications as a member of WYITA Passenger Transport Consultative Committee, as METRO had commented on the applications (minutes 39 & 41 refer respectively)

Councillors Driver & Jarosz – redevelopment proposals for the former Alf Cooke Printworks - declared interests as members of the Leeds College of Building. The legal adviser determined that these were personal interests as Councillor Driver explained he was aware that the College of Building had proposed a development in the vicinity of this site. (minute 41 refers)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Nash. The Panel welcomed Councillor Coulson as her substitute

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held 27^th October 2011 as a correct record

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 27^th October 2011 be agreed as a correct record

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer on proposed alterations to the Merrion Centre, including re-cladding of car park, new shop fronts, and change of use of shops and market to food, drink and leisure uses (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and D2 uses) involving reconfiguration of floorspace. The Panel previously considered the proposals at the October Panel meeting and a copy of the earlier report is attached for reference

(Report attached)

Further to minute 29 of the meeting held 27^th October 2011 when Panel deferred determination of the application to allow more time for officers to discuss Members’ concerns over the Travel Plan, elevations and lighting, the Chief Planning Officer submitted a report setting out the developers’ responses. Members had visited the site prior to the meeting. Site plans, internal layout plans and architects drawings were displayed at the meeting along with computer generated graphics showing the earlier and revised proposals. A copy of the report presented to Panel on 27 October 2011 was included for reference

(Councillor A Blackburn joined the meeting at this point)

The revisions to the scheme were highlighted as being:

Elevations

• Glazing was now proposed to extend around the corner of Wade Lane and into the Service area entrance. The glazing would be frosted to prevent views into the gym proposed at this location
• The cladding to the top level of the car park had been reduced by 2m in order to emphasise the linear effect and focus attention to the ground floor double height glazed shop fronts
• Darker coloured cladding panels were now proposed to the rear of the lighter diagrid cladding to encourage greater attention on the new grid formation to the foreground

  Lighting

• Technical drawings of the proposed diagrid showing the LED points and a slide showing the intended night scene with the car park illuminated were displayed. The LEDs had colour changing ability

  Surface treatment

• The proposed works were felt to be commensurate with the scale of development proposed under this application
• The Panel had previously identified the pavements between the Arena site and Merrion Centre as requiring refurbishment. Officers responded that the Arena permission included surface treatment works to the footway fronting Merrion Way outside Merrion House. Additionally the proposals for the Grosvenor Casino site on Merrion Way include pedestrian footway improvements

  Travel Plan

• The revisions to the Travel Plan (TP) addressed the Panels previous concerns and included an increase of 50% to the TP budget, the potential for additional incentives; commitment to participate in local sustainable travel events and an undertaking for additional publicity of the scheme.
• A sequence for the survey and monitoring of the TP throughout the development and occupation phases had been agreed and included a TP Co-ordinator who would be responsible for delivering best practice for the Merrion Centre as a whole
• The Public Transport Contribution had now been agreed

Officers concluded by stating that TCS, the developer, were keen to commence development works with a view for completion prior to the opening of the Arena

(Councillor S Hamilton left the meeting at this point)

Members made the following comments:

• Welcomed the improvement made to the Wade Lane elevation which Members noted was likely to see increased footfall from visitors en route to the Arena. Members suggested further improvement could be made by the inclusion of one more glazed panel to face into the service area
• Sought to confirm the preservation and re-installation of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer on two applications for the redevelopment of the former Doncaster Monkbridge site, Whitehall Road, Leeds. Application 11/03759/RM relates to proposals for a 29 storey block of 194 flats and use of 2 railway arches for commercial purposes and Application 11/03758/LI relates to a listed building application to carry out alterations, repairs and restoration to disused railway viaduct to form new public realm and links to adjoining residential development at the disused railway viaduct.

(Report attached)

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report on two applications relating to the former Doncaster Monkbridge site. Panel noted that outline planning permission had been granted for the residential block in 2007. The reserved matters application related to a 29 storey residential development (the third block out of a total of four on the site) and works to the railway viaduct to create new public realm, access and retail uses. The listed building application relates to the works to the railway viaduct which is Grade II listed. Site plans, photographs and architects drawings were displayed at the meeting. Members had visited the site prior to the meeting. Officers outlined the proposals as:

Viaduct – the listed building application proposed the same repair and restoration works as Application 07/06133/LI which had lapsed on 5/9/11

• Modern brick buttresses to be removed
• The balustrade to be replaced in areas where it had decayed or was missing
• The arches would provide either pedestrian or vehicular access into the site, and a mix of retail/commercial uses
• An elevated walkway connecting the viaduct to the multi-storey car park
• A nature reserve/biodiversity area to be established on the western end of the viaduct with the remainder of the viaduct top being laid out as a publicly accessible landscaped space
• An area of public realm is also to be introduced between the viaduct and the residential building at ground level

Residential Block

• The elevations would incorporate white composite ceramic and porcelain materials
• Ground floor - cycle store and entrance
• First floor – additional entrance with ramped access to account for level changes and to reflect the design of the grit stone steps to be introduced to the viaduct
• Accommodation to be a mix of studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units and duplexes
• The roof is stepped back from level 23 with the introduction of roof terraces
• 3 bed units and duplexes with greater terraced areas are proposed from level 26
• Indicative drawings of the block in situ were displayed showing the proximity of the block to the viaduct and the other three blocks proposed in the overall development
• Officers concluded that the proposals in these applications were in accordance with the design principles submitted at the Outline application stage

Members discussed the following matters with officers:

• Height of the block and the overall impact of the four tall buildings on wind generation at ground level, referencing back to the experience of Bridgewater Place. Officers responded that a condition requiring that a wind survey be undertaken could be added
• Whether sun plotting had taken place. Members noted the indicative drawings showed external seating in the public space to the north of the Viaduct but commented that the sun would be to the south
• Noted the nearby MEPC scheme incorporated greenspace which would complement this scheme. Members requested that the historical aerial photograph of both sites be made available for reference
• The nature of the intended public art. Officers responded that the LCC Design Team would liaise with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer on two applications relating to proposals to redevelop the former Alf Cook Print Works, Hunslet. Application 11/04293/FU sets out change of use proposals of the former print works to Class D1 (Educational Use) including demolitions, alterations and extensions of existing buildings to form proposed Education College Campus. Application 11/04278/LI sets out the listed building application for the demolition of existing warehouses and removal of non-load bearing, unoriginal internal partitions including restoration and alterations to the former Alf Cooke print works building itself

(Report attached)

The Panel had visited the site prior to the meeting. Plans of the existing building footprint were displayed for reference along with proposed site plans, indicative drawings, internal layout plans and computer generated images of the elevations and streetscene. Members had regard to the addendum sent out after the agenda for the meeting.

Officers highlighted the main issues for consideration as being:

• The balance between the buildings to be demolished and those to be retained. Historical internal features within the Main Building printing halls (MB) such as the staircases, balustrade and columns will be retained and modern additions such as  partition walls will be removed
• Building 3 will be re-clad with twin-skin glazing and brise soleil with access ramp and will provide the main college entrance and general administrative uses,
• Building 4 is to be extended to provide catering & hospitality courses
• Building 5 will be re-clad with new roof lights and provide hair & beauty courses with likely motor vehicle repair uses introduced in phase 2 of the development.
• Building 6 would be demolished and replaced with landscaping, cycle and motorcycle parking and visitor parking
• A courtyard area will be created to the rear of the site in the void left by the demolition of buildings 2b and 2c
• Computer generated graphics showing the internal atrium of the MB and external elevations on the streetscene were displayed
• Officers also issued a correction to the main report stating that paragraph 10.6.1 should state that whilst the proposed use is classified under PPS25 as “more vulnerable”, the applicant had demonstrated via a submitted sequential test, exceptions test and the submission of a flood risk assessment, that the proposals were acceptable in this location and would adequately safeguard against the potential flooding impact.

Members broadly welcomed the scheme which they felt would provide a prestigious re-use of the site and went onto discuss the following:

• Noted the site was well served with bus links, but access from the Dewsbury Road corridor was difficult 
• Proximity of the main entrance to Hunslet Road which was a busy main road into the city. Members noted that once the Mill Building was refurbished a new entrance would be created at the south eastern corner of the site. Officers responded that improved signage would encourage greater use of this entrance away from the main road
• The modern treatment to the elevations of Building 3 was welcomed but Members felt the proposed colour of the glazing should relate better to the red brick colour of the MB. It was noted that this could be discussed with the applicant
• Colour treatment of the gable end of the MB which abuts Building 3 needed to delineate the difference between the buildings. Officers confirmed that this colour could be discussed with the applicant
• Commented that the removal of building 6 could create a wind funnel effect between building 5 and the MB. Officers responded that a wind assessment had not been requested as the scheme did not propose any new buildings taller than  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

To consider  the report of the Chief Planning Officer informing members of the progress of restoration of the First White Cloth Hall

(Report attached)

The Panel received a report providing an update on the progress made to restore the First White Cloth Hall, Lower Kirkgate and setting out future development options. The Regeneration Manager (Projects & Programmes) attended the meeting and presented the following key issues:

• The remaining structure comprises of two-thirds of the original First White Cloth Hall (FWCH) with the west wing being lost due to the demolition of a neighbouring property in 2010. The demolition enabled safe access to the site, an analysis of which determined that repairs to the fabric of the building could be undertaken and as such were eligible for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund
• The FWCH will now be included within the Stage 2 bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for repair and restoration works to Lower Kirkgate. The Stage 2 bid will be made by May 2012
• The owner of FWCH owned a number of other properties within the THI developments along with the car park to the rear of the FWCH. In order to show how theses developments will relate in spatial and financial terms the owner had been asked to produce a wider master plan for the area
• Works were anticipated to commence on the FWCH in Autumn 2013 if the Stage 2 bid was successful

Members discussed the following

• Emphasised their concern that, given the history of the site, there was a need to establish time limits for action and to provide timely updates to Panel on the progress of the HLF bid and subsequent actions
• The phasing of the five year development plan for all properties within the Townscape Heritage Bid
• The documenting of the archaeology of the site which will continue into 2013 depending on what is discovered there
• The difference between the two artists impressions of the original FWCH façade shown and the need to ensure one drawing is presented to the HLF. It was noted that the drawings had evolved as the archaeology was further investigated

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted and to note in particular that work is progressing towards repairing the First White Cloth Hall. To request a further report be presented to the 16th February 2012 Panel meeting to include information on the preferred development option

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 20^th December 2011 at 1:30 pm

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Thursday 22^nd December 2011 at 1.30 pm