Agenda and minutes

The Chair introduced and welcomed Jonathan Carr to his first meeting of City Plans Panel. Mr Carr had recently been appointed as the new Head of Development Management within City Development.

Members expressed their thanks and appreciation to Steve Butler who had previously occupied the role on a temporary basis.

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.

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

There were no items identified where it was considered necessary to exclude the press or public from the meeting due to the nature of the business to be considered.

The Chair accepted the inclusion of an additional item onto the agenda as referred to in Minute No. 106. “Minutes of the previous meeting held on 14^th December 2017”. Members were informed that the item was not available at the time of the agenda publication and it was in the best interests of the Council and other parties concerned that the matter be considered without delay.

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 any disclosable pecuniary interests made at the meeting.

To receive apologies for absence (If any)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor R Procter.

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14^th December 2017.

(Copy to follow)

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 14^th December 2017 were submitted for consideration and approval.

Referring to Minute No. 96 Councillor Campbell required it to be recorded that he was not supportive of the proposals.

With reference to Minute No.98 Councillor G Latty required it to be recorded that he was not supportive of the principle of student housing on this site.

With reference to Minute No.99 Councillor Nash required it to be recorded that the request to reconsider re-siting of development blocks to provide a 20m flood zone also applied to City Reach Phase 2

RESOLVED – That with the inclusion of the above, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14^th December 2017 be accepted as a true and correct

To consider any matters arising from the minutes (If any)

(i)  Application No. 17/03974/RM – 292 dwellings on land South of Railway Line at Thorpe Park, Leeds, LS15 8ZB (Minute No.97 referred) – Councillor Nash requested to know if the location of the proposed Railway Station to serve the area had been determined.

In responding the Chief Planning Officer reported that the position  had not changed since the previous meeting, discussions were continuing with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority but as yet the location had not been determined.

In offering comment Councillor Gruen said he was aware discussions were ongoing about the location of the Railway Station but this was not compromised by the application in any way. 

(ii)  Application No. 17/04351/LA – Construction of a duel carriageway Orbital Route on land between Ring Road Shadwell and Thorpe Park (Minute No. 81 of the meeting held on 23^rd November 2017 referred) – Councillor Gruen reported that a Local Parish Councillor who had made representations at that meeting believed that his comments had been misrepresented.

In responding the Chair said the minutes from that meeting had been approved as a correct record and it was not the intension of the Panel to now revisit those minutes. The Chair suggested that the planning case officer enter into dialogue with the Parish Councillor with a view to addressing any concerns raised. 

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of an application which seeks a variation of condition 2 (approved plans) of approval 15/00415/FU to amend the approved drawings to reflect layout and design changes including an increase in units to 316 from 312 dwellings at Low Fold, South Accommodation Road, Leeds LS10 1ND

(Report attached)

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which set out details of an application which sought a variation to condition 2 (approved plans) of approval 15/00415/FU to amend the approved drawings to reflect layout and design changes including an increase in units to 316 from 312 dwellings at Low Fold, South Accommodation Road, Leeds, LS10 1ND

Site photographs and plans were displayed and referred to throughout the discussion of the application.

The City Centre Team Leader addressed the Panel, speaking in detail about the proposal and highlighted the following:

·  Members were reminded that the principle of the development had been established by the original planning permission and therefore Government advice was that Local Planning Authorities should focus their attention on significant changes in planning policy or other material considerations since the original grant of permission and on the changes sought.

·  The application was for a variation of condition 2 (approved plans list) of planning permission 15/00415/FU to amend the approved drawings.

·  The proposed amendments included:

- Increase in the number of dwellings from 312 to 316 – increase by 4

- Reduction in car parking from 247 to 237 – loss of 10 car parking spaces

- Change in mix of houses and flats from 150 houses (102 three bed, 48 four bed) and 162 flats (47 one bed, 115 two bed) to 121 houses (79 three bed, 42 four bed) and 191 flats (86 one-bed, 103 two-bed, 2 three-bed and 4 four-bed)

- House types are now categorised into three types:

- type 1 – riverside

- type 2 - mews

- type 3 – dual aspect

- House types feature home offices or bedrooms at ground floor and living room/kitchen at upper floor to give river views to the living rooms of more houses

- Layout changes including the omission of pinch points to the mews houses

- Mews street retained as 10m wide with 3 storey houses either side.

- Planting and bench features to each house frontage to create defensible space to ground floor windows

- Block Z community facility and cycle store in timber

- More uniform arrangement, less stepping in built form and in layout.

- Increased height to apartment blocks facing East Street and South

Accommodation Road to 5-10 storeys from 7-8 storeys

- Changes to the external cladding materials from Eternit fibre cement panels, natural timber cladding and red metal mesh cladding to Trespa panels, cement fibre panels and Rockpanel tiles.

·  The overall design principles remained as approved

In response to Members questions, the following issues were discussed:

·  Why was it considered necessary to change the plans

·  The revised scheme resulted in a loss of 10 car parking spaces, would this have implications for on-street parking in the neighbouring area

·  Could sample materials be provided

·  Would the development create employment opportunities for local people

·  The nature of the development appeared to be changing by creating more one bedroom flats and reducing the two and three bed accommodation (Family accommodation)

·  When was it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 109.

To note that the next meeting will take place on Thursday 25^th January 2018 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

RESOLVED – To note that the next meeting will take place on Thursday 25^th January 2018 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.