Agenda and minutes

  The Chair welcomed everyone to the first meeting in the new committee room and with the new technology, and asked Members and Officers to introduce themselves for the benefit of the public.  The Chair referred to the members of the National Planning Casework Unit, who were attending for part of the meeting and hoped they would find the discussions interesting

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 interest however Councillor Leadley brought to the Panel’s attention in respect of application 14/07352/OT – Low Moor Farm Albert Drive Morley, that he had been the Chair of Morley Town Council Planning Committee which had considered the application and had made representations on it (minute 18 refers)

  Councillor P Gruen brought to the Panel’s attention that he was a Director of the Ruth Gorse Academy Trust and that he had declared this at all Board meetings and had not taken part in discussions relating to the proposed new Academy, in order that he could fully participate in the planning discussions (minute 19 refers)

  Councillor S Hamilton also brought to the Panel’s attention that she was a Governor at Hillcrest Primary Academy (minute 19 refers)

  There were no apologies for absence

To approve the minutes of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 11^th June 2015

(minutes attached)

  RESOLVED -  That the minutes of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 11^th June 2015 be approved

  With reference to minute 12 of the meeting held on 11^th June 2015, the Chair stated that instead of a meeting being held on that day, the Panel had visited a number of schemes it had granted planning approval for and had found the visits positive and extremely useful

  Members had visited a completed development - the new library at Leeds University; a commercial scheme at Whitehall Road/Wellington Street on the MEPC site which was currently under construction and the new College of Building site at Black Bull Street which was operational

  In relation to the new Leeds University library, the work of City Plans Panel in requesting alterations and improvements to the original proposals was acknowledged.  Members commented on the scheme, particularly the chimney with concerns that the Panel had not been made aware of the nature of the public art being proposed and should have been.  In terms of the changes sought by Panel on this scheme, Members considered this demonstrated well the point that developers should not be given automatic planning permission on brownfield sites

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of an outline application for residential development, including means of access at Low Moor Farm, Albert Drive, Morley, Leeds, LS27 8SH

(Report attached)

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

  The Head of Planning Services presented the report which sought approval for outline planning permission – for principle of residential development and means of access on a 7.6ha site of land designated as Protected Area of Search (PAS) land at Low Moor Farm, Albert Drive Morley LS27

Members were informed this was the first application to be determined after the withdrawal of the interim PAS policy, with details being given of previous PAS sites which had been granted approval for residential development, including a site in Morley at Owlers Farm and those which had been refused

  Members were informed that the masterplan for the site indicated up to 185 dwellings, although the applicant had stated this could now be up to 200,  although Officers would need to consider this in detail at the Reserved Matters stage

  Officers had requested that the applicant consider the possibility of burying the existing power line which ran across the site and caused some constraints, with the applicant indicating a willingness to investigate this if outline planning permission was granted

  In terms of the Council’s 5 year land supply, Members were advised this site formed part of this and that the draft Site Allocations Plan (SAP) had been recently approved by Executive Board for public consultation, with this site being included as a Phase 1 site.  Other Phase 1 sites in the vicinity of the subject site were outlined, for Members’ information

  The Panel then heard representations from Councillor Finnigan, a Ward Member, who outlined his concerns in respect of the proposals, which included:

·  the level of development on greenfield sites which far outweighed that of brownfield sites in Morley

·  that the land formed a green corridor between Morley and Dewsbury Road

·  education provision and the chronic shortage of school places for local children

·  highways issues, particularly the proposed access from Albert Drive

·  the impact of the proposals on existing residents of Albert Drive, especially in terms of their parking provision which was on-street

·  the impact of developing the other Phase 1 sites in this area, particularly on education provision

Following questions from the Panel additional information was provided

by Councillor Finnigan which related to:

·  the high level of representations on the LDF from residents in Morley

·  that the site should be considered as a Phase 3 site in the SAP due to the issues associated with congestion on Dewsbury Road; existing on-street parking by local residents and the lack of education provision to cater for the likely numbers of pupils the development of this site would generate

·  that a more realistic target for residential development was 50,000 through the life of the plan which was consistent with the number of completions being achieved

·  drainage and flooding issues associated with the site and concerns about the removal of natural greenery and replacement by an artificial process, ie a balancing pond and drainage infrastructure to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer, which sets out details

of an application for the development of a new secondary free school with associated sports and recreation facilities, parking and landscaping at Black Bull Street, Hunslet, Leeds 10.

(Report attached)

  Further to minute 174 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 16^th April 2015, where Panel considered a pre-application presentation for a new secondary free school at Black Bull Street, Members considered a further report of the Chief Planning Officer setting out the formal application

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

  Officers presented the report which related to the provision of a new secondary free school – The Ruth Gorse Academy – on land at Black Bull Street

  Members were updated on the following issues:

·  drainage – with the applicant continuing to negotiate on the issue of the water discharge rate which Yorkshire Water were not satisfied with.  Members were informed this matter would be controlled by condition

·  connectivity, with a commuted sum of £22,000 being offered towards the future provision of a new East-West pedestrian and cycle connection along the southern boundary of the site (to be delivered in conjunction with any redevelopment of the site to the south), with this to be considered by Highways Officers

·  the off-site highways package – that this was now acceptable

·  the construction management plan – that this remained under review and could be controlled by condition

·  school bus provision – that Highways Officers were satisfied with the proposed layout

In respect of the boundary treatments, some revisions had been made

in light of Members’ comments with railings and brick piers being proposed to the Chadwick Street boundary.  Mesh fencing would be provided to the MUGA but would be set back from the pavement, with nine new street trees to be planted on Black Bull Street

  Members noted the design alterations to the Hub in view of the concerns expressed about the visual impact of the initial proposals

  The Panel discussed the application.  The Chair invited the Principal of the Ruth Gorse Academy and the applicant’s highways representative to respond to queries and comments from the Panel.  A detailed discussion took place with the main points being raised relating to:

·  the speed of traffic on Black Bull Street and measures to slow traffic speed.  Concerns were raised about the incidents of speeding along this road which Members had witnessed on their site visit with a request being made this matter be formally referred to Highways and West Yorkshire Police.  The Transport Development Services Manager confirmed this matter would be taken up and enforcement action commenced

·  concerns about the potential conflict between pedestrians and road users in this area

·  the need for traffic laybys to be surfaced in a different colour or raised to ensure the location of the pedestrian flow was highlighted.  The Transport Development Services Manager advised that although this was not part of the application, it could be investigated

·  the Park and Stride initiative and an explanation of this

·  the NGT proposals and how this could affect the parking on Chadwick Street, particularly if the NGT scheme was not implemented.  Members were informed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of an application seeking a variation of Conditions 4, 23, 28 and 30 of Outline Planning Permission 14/05483/FU (Mixed use development at Thorpe Park, Leeds) To introduce greater flexibility to allow the 9,000SQ.M of gross retail floorspace within the approved foodstore unit to be reconfigured to provide up to 2,000 SQ.M of gross convenience goods floorspace and 7,000 SQ.M gross for non-food operators (Including resultant changes to the total permitted net sales floorspace) to land between Barrowby Lane and Manston Lane, Thorpe Park, Leeds, LS15 8ZB.

(Report attached)

  The Panel considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer seeking the variation of several conditions attached to approval 14/05483/FU to introduce greater flexibility to allow the 9000sqm of gross retail floorspace within the approved foodstore unit to be reconfigured to provide up to 2000sqm of gross convenience good floorspace and 7000sqm for non-food operators

  Members were reminded of the background to the scheme where retail elements and more recently housing elements had been introduced into the long term proposals for Thorpe Park.  Reference was also made to the recent applications at the site considered by Panel at its meeting held on 11^th June 2015, (minutes 8 and 9 refer)

  The application before Panel proposed a shift in the level of retail to allow for greater flexibility to counteract the severe decline in the food retail sector and was a response to what had been negotiated with a major anchor store.  The application did not seek to increase the overall level of retail floorspace on the site

  The proposal was acceptable in highways terms.  As the application was a departure from the Development Plan, if approved in principle, it would need to be referred to the Secretary of State.  In respect of representations to the proposals, one objection had been received from Hammerson’s on behalf of John Lewis, which was detailed in the report before Panel

  Updated health checks had been received on the various centres within the Thorpe Park catchment area, with these indicating these centres remain vibrant and healthy

  Officers had considered the points raised on behalf of John Lewis about the sequential test but were of the view this matter had been satisfactorily addressed

  Members were updated on key developments in respect of the scheme and the Manston Lane Link Road (MLLR).  The first phase of office development would commence later this year and be completed in the first quarter of 2016.  The legal agreement had been completed between the Council and Network Rail for the link road and railway bridge.  Work on the MLLR was expected to commence in the first – second quarter of 2016 with completion by the first half of 2017; subject to detailed planning permission the retail and leisure proposals were expected to start by the middle of 2016 and be completed by mid 2017, with Green Park to follow

  The Head of Planning Services referred the Members’ site visit earlier that day to the Victoria Gate site where Members had been informed that in January 2016, the John Lewis store would be handed over to the company’s shop fitters, with the due opening date for this store being in September 2016, before the Thorpe Park retail elements had been completed.  In view of this, it was felt that Panel could draw its own conclusions on the issues raised in the objection from Hammerson’s

  The possible impact of the revised retail proposals at Thorpe Park on Seacroft Town Centre was raised, with Officers being of the view that Seacroft Town Centre  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Thursday 13^th August 2015 at 1.30pm

  Thursday 13^th August 2015 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds