Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

No exempt information was contained within the agenda.

No formal late items of business were added to the agenda; however Members were in receipt of better quality site plans in place of pages 41, 49 and 53 of the agenda pack.

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

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Macniven and J Procter. Councillor P Gruen attended the meeting as substitute for Councillor Macniven.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held 1^st March 2016 as a correct record

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 1^st March 2016 be approved.

Minute 33 – Site Allocation Plan (SAP) –

Members received an update on the task of inputting consultation responses, which was now approximately 95% complete, with the redaction process underway to prepare the responses for publication. Additionally the outcome of the meeting held on 15^th March 2016 with local ward Councillors to discuss the Outer North East Housing Market Characteristic Area was reported. It was noted that a report on an alternative approach to the ONE HMCA would be presented to a future Panel meeting.

Minute 34 - Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan & SAP – Members received a proposed timetable for the progression of both the AVLAAP and SAP and considered setting an appropriate meeting schedule. The following meeting dates and likely agenda were agreed:

14^th June 2016 at 1.30 pm (with site visits scheduled for the morning)

28^th June 2016 at 1.30 pm (with site visits possibly scheduled for the morning)

19^th July 2016 at 1.30 pm

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer providing a summary of the representations received to the publication consultation on the Site Allocations Plan (SAP) with specific regard to Retail. The report discusses the issues raised in the representations to the Plan, with recommendations for consideration in determining how the council should respond for all areas except the City Centre. The report also includes recommendations for Major Modifications to the SAP.

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which provided a summary of the representations received to the publication consultation on the Site Allocations Plan (SAP) with specific regard to Retail.

Louise White,Principal Planner (Retail), presented the report and discussed the issues raised in the 26 representations received, including the recommendations for consideration in order to determine how the Council should respond, for all areas except the city centre. Additionally the report included recommendations for Major Modifications to the SAP.

With regard to the City Centre, in light of the representations received, it was noted that officers felt the Plan policies needed to better reflect retail as a leisure activity and address the impact of revised Permitted Development Rights. As such, proposals for the City Centre would be brought forward following discussion with shopping centre owners.

Discussions were noted on the following matters:

Kirkstall –

Generally welcomed the proposals to retain the current Kirkstall Town Centre site boundary in order to retain future Town Centre uses, noting that this site currently included some retail elements and that other localities such as Headingley had successful split retail sites

Acknowledged that regeneration of the Kirkstall Town Centre site could be dependent on retaining retail element

Commented that the proposed Primary Frontage designation to Kirkstall Bridge Retail Park could prevent future development of the Town Centre site and suggested proposing secondary frontage designation instead

Officers agreed to further consider comments about the current mixed use of the Kirkstall Town Centre site and future Kirkstall Bridge Retail Park frontage designation in order to avoid preventing future regeneration of the whole site.

Yeadon -

A comment was noted that, had permission not been granted for the Aldi foodstore, this site would have been considered for removal from retail

Members supported officers’ view that this site was not yet ready to be designated as Primary Frontage as the store was not yet built.

Major Modification - Guiseley White Cross -

A comment was noted that a single Aldi store at this location did not support a Higher Order Local Centre designation. The balance of uses nearby, including residential had to be considered.

In response, Members noted once the foodstore was constructed, this site would meet the requirements for either a Higher or Lower Order Centre.

Morley – In response to comments that the report did not reflect submissions from Morley Town Council, officers explained that not all submissions had been collated yet. A further comment on perceived inconsistencies regarding the inclusion of religious/cultural/community centres within some centre boundaries and not others was also addressed.

RESOLVED-

a)  To note the summary representations on retail to the draft Site Allocations Plan consultation as contained in Appendix A of the submitted report

b)  That, having considered the issues set out in Section 4 of the submitted report, along with the accompanying policy and plans contained within Appendices B to M, the Panel give approval to the following recommendations as set out in Section 4:

i) City Centre HMCA  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer on the National Housing Standards Review and the commitment to prepare a Development Plan Document (DPD) in response. Additionally, the report sets out the main considerations for progression of the DPD.

The Panel considered the report of the Chief Planning Officer on the National Housing Standards Review – introducing space and accessibility standards for new housing. The report also outlined the commitment to prepare a Development Plan Document (DPD) in response to enable the national standards to be applied in Leeds, including the Nationally Prescribed Space Standard (as attached at Appendix 1) and Accessible Housing (Appendix 2).

Appropriate consultation with house builders and residents would be held as part of the DPD process and the report set out a proposed timeline for implementation of the DPD.

Robin Coghlan, Planning Policy Team Leader, presented the report and highlighted that Energy and Water standards were already addressed through “passporting” a new policy approach to applying Policy EN1 and EN2.

The Panel discussed the following key issues:

Nationally Prescribed Space Standard:

-  Noted Leeds had adopted space standards for development of council housing several years ago.

-  Whether the new Standards could be championed through the Authority’s own housing stock

-  Whether the requirements for increased/standard room space would be reflected in garden space

Accessible Housing:

-  Clarification was provided on the terms M4 (1) Category 1: ‘ordinary’ dwellings; M4 (2) Category 2: accessible and adaptable dwellings (“lifetime dwellings”) and M4 (3) Category 3: wheelchair standard dwellings.

-  The use and application of the term “optional Building Regulation” in the descriptor was clarified

National Guidance required the LPA to evidence i) the need for additional standards in their area and ii) that housing development will remain viable to justify setting appropriate policies in the Local Plan.

-  Members considered how satisfactory evidence could be gathered and presented

-  Members considered how viability would be dealt with in the future and whether the Standard would apply city-wide or be locality led

·  Whether the Plan could be adopted sooner. Officers highlighted the need to adhere to the statutory preparation process and to incorporate time for the involvement of the Planning Inspectorate.

·  Whether outline permissions granted before the adoption of the Plan would have to adhere to the standards. Officers expected the standards to be applied to Reserve Matters applications, although there may be issues about capacities that have to be considered at Outline application stage.

·  The impact of the new Standards on Neighbourhood Plans

·  The impact of the energy standards on the Core Strategy

·  Work on the new Government viability standards would take place alongside SAP viability work, noting a request for future reports to include Leeds current space standards in order to provide context to the Governments new Standards.

·  The Panel welcomed the prospect of future development proposals enabling discussion on the percentage of accessible homes per development.

RESOLVED - That the contents of the report be approved, including the broad scope of the Development Plan Document and the timetable for preparation.

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer which provides an update on the progress of the SHLAA 2015 Update and housing land supply appeals.

Further to minute 25 of the meeting held 19^th January 2016, the Panel considered a further update report on the progress of the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA). The report also reported on housing land supply appeals.

It was reported that the SHLAA Partnership had met, the SHLAA Update had been finalised and a 5 year supply position had been calculated. The report outlined the discussions at the SHLAA Partnership meeting and the views of those volume house builders who engaged with the process. It was noted that a representation from the House Builders Federation had been received after the process closed.

The report detailed the process by which the Final SHLAA Update Position figures were reached, taking into account Draft Site Allocations Plan and the Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan, as well as safeguarded, green belt and flood risk areas. Appendix 1 of the report contained a site schedule to accompany the Council's Position Statement on 5 Year Housing Land Supply

Officers reported confidence over the robustness of the 5 year supply figure (with 5% buffer)

In respect of Housing Appeals, the report provided an outline of the current position in respect of Section 78 planning appeals over the refusal of permission for housing proposals on safeguarded land, where the SHLAA was fundamental to the Council.

Members discussed the impact the long standing enquiries were having on development in Leeds and frustration that, unlike Local Planning Authorities, the Planning Inspectorate did not have targets deadlines by which matters should be dealt with

RESOLVED - To approve the contents of the report

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 10^th May 2016 at 1.30 pm

RESOLVED - To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 10th May 2016 at 1.30pm