Agenda and minutes

  The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting

  There were no formal late items, however the Panel was in receipt of a copy of a summary document relating to the Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan (AVLAAP), which the Head of Forward Planning and Implementation tabled at the meeting (minute 44 refers)

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct

  There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.  A declaration of an ‘other’ interest was made later in the meeting (minute 42 refers)

  Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors J Lewis, M Rafique and J Procter, with Councillors B Selby, E Nash and G Latty substituting for their respective colleagues

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer which seeks the views of Members as to whether or not to recommend that sites at Weetwood and Tingley should be included as housing allocations in the Site Allocations Plan (SAP).

(Report attached)

  With reference to discussions held at Development Plan Panel on 13^th January 2015 and Executive Board on 11^th February 2015, the Panel considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer in respect of two sites within the Site Allocations Plan (SAP) – 3378 Weetwood Lane and 1143B Tingley – and whether to recommend these should be included as housing allocations in the SAP

  Large scale maps of the sites were displayed at the meeting

  Officers presented the report and informed Members that both sites were located in the Green Belt; were reasonably accessible; were assets held by the Leeds Cricket, Football and Athletic Company Ltd and were being put forward as enabling development for the benefit of securing international cricket at Headingley, however in terms of the SAP process, Members were informed this last point was a side issue

  The housing targets for North HMCA and the Outer South West HMCA were outlined, with Members being informed that for the North HMCA there was a surplus of 185 units, which did not include site 3378 – Weetwood and for the Outer South West HMCA, there was a shortfall of 166 units; this figure taking into account site 1143B – Tingley

  The Chief Planning Officer stressed that any enabling development justification would need to be considered through the planning application process

  Members discussed the report, with the main issues being raised relating to:

·  the Panel’s previous views and comments on the Weetwood site and that it should be retained as Green Belt, particularly as it prevented coalescence of the settlement and that its loss would lead to urban sprawl, together with the view that this site had been unused for many years; that it was on the fringe of a larger area of land running from Hyde Park towards Otley and that its proposed removal from the Green Belt would have limited impact

·  the lack of detail on the mechanics of the enabling development

·  the benefits which Test Cricket at Headingley brought to Leeds and the need for improvements to be made to the cricket ground in order for Headingley to remain a possible Test Match venue

·  the nature of the decision before the Panel and that planning permission for development was not being considered

·  the lack of detail on what the funds raised from the enabling development would be spent on at Headingley and the possibility of deferring a decision on these sites until further information had been provided

·  the possibility of very special circumstances being put forward by the land owner to justify these sites being considered for residential development

The Panel’s legal adviser – the Head of Service, Strategy and Resources – advised Members that there were two separate processes; the preparation of the SAP which was for this Panel and any consideration of a future planning application which could run in parallel but would be for the Plans Panel to determine.  The matter before the Panel today was to consider whether it was appropriate to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of the strategic housing (and employment) issues within the ONE HMCA, as a basis to determine a way forward in the preparation of the SAP Publication Plan.

(Report attached)

  Prior to consideration of this matter, Councillor Charlwood left the meeting

  With reference to discussions by the Development Plan Panel on 13^th January 2015 and Executive Board on 11^th February 2015 on the SAP, Members considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer which reported back on the strategic housing and employment issues within the Outer North East (ONE) HMCA, as a basis to determine a way forward in the preparation of the SAP Publication Plan

  Officers presented the report and reminded Members that the housing target for ONE HMCA was 5000 units and that at the Issues and Options consultation, two particular sites were identified – Thorp Arch (site 1055 A/1055B; EMP00326) and Headley Hall ( site 3391)

  Members were informed there was a live planning application for a mixed use development and the creation of a new settlement at Thorp Arch which had last been presented to City Plans Panel in December 2013, although indications had been made that the applicant remained keen to progress the application and was working to resolve several issues relating to the proposals.  In terms of the number of residential units proposed for the Thorp Arch site, Officers were of the view this would have a significant impact on the capacity of the rural road network

  Reference was made to a recent letter from the applicant which raised concerns about how the Thorp Arch site was being presented and the options

  The Headley Hall site was located in the Green Belt; was an 8ha site and was in a strategic location being close to the A1(M) and A64

  The housing and employment target figures within the submitted report were outlined.  Headley Hall had the capacity to deliver 3000 houses within the plan period and could offer critical mass to enable a settlement to be developed from the start, whereas it might be more difficult to integrate the Thorp Arch site and there were a number of issues to be resolved, including highways and land contamination

  Members discussed the report, with the key areas of discussion relating to:

·  the number of sites in the ONE HMCA which had been rejected

·  other options available.  Members were informed that whilst other options did exist, these related to smaller sites and would involve the release of PAS sites, with this not being as sustainable or as sequentially preferable as the proposals being put forward

·  the length of time Officers had been discussing development proposals at Thorp Arch

·  the need for some certainty for local residents and Ward Members

·  the need for an update on the discussions with Selby Council.  Officers advised that Selby District Council had an adopted Core Strategy and that although they were focusing development within settlements had indicated they would consider other sites, although the SAP process needed to be undertaken which would include public consultation

·  that Ward Members considered the options put forward in the report as the best way of taking the issue forward

RESOLVED -  To note the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer which sets out the AVLAAP Publication draft Plan, consistent with the overall requirements of the Core Strategy and the scope of the AAP. The report seeks the view of Members as to whether the draft Plan is taken forward for consultation in due course. 

(Report attached)

  With reference to discussions held at the Development Plan Panel meetings of 16^th December 2014, 6^th January 2015 and 13^th January 2015 and Executive Board of 11^th February 2015, Members considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer which set out the  AVLAAP Publication Draft Plan.  A supplementary document which outlined the context; content and scope of the Plan; the key policies and proposals; the detailed area plans and next steps towards consultation, submission and examination was considered alongside the main report

  Detailed discussions took place in respect of specific sites, with the following issues being raised:

·  housing mix; the large number of flats being provided in the area; an acceptance of some flats if the proposal was for the conversion of an existing building but that family houses were required

·  connectivity and the need to have a plan in place in the event the NGT project did not come forward

·  the possibility of reopening closed railway stations and that consideration should be given to one at Stourton which was currently being used to facilitate Royal Mail

·  the importance of referencing heritage assets, particularly the Golden Gate Public House and Hunslet Library and that consideration should be given to listing these buildings

·  the orientation of Morrisons Supermarket at Hunslet which needed to be considered

·  public realm and the extent to which the footpath along the River Aire had been lit and the need for this to continue to Hunslet Mill, in the interests of pedestrian safety

RESOLVED -  To note the comments now made and to recommend

to Executive Board that the AVLAAP Publication draft Plan be taken forward for public consultation

  Councillor J McKenna took the opportunity to pay tribute to Councillor Walshaw during his time as Chair of Development Plan Panel and for the excellent work he had done in this role.  Members were informed that from the new Municipal Year, Councillor Walshaw would be the new Chair of North and East Plans Panel.  Councillor McKenna wished the incoming Chair of Development Plan Panel, Councillor Congreve, well in his new role

Tuesday 16^th June 2015 at 1.30pm

Wednesday 24^th June 2015 at 1.30pm

  Tuesday 16^th June 2015 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds