Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked Members and Officers to introduce themselves

There were no formal late items, however in respect of the pre-application presentation relating to the Granary Wharf car park, additional information setting out the proposals was tabled to the Panel (minute 72 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

To approve the minutes of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 5^th November 2015

(minutes attached)

RESOLVED -  That the minutes of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 5^th November 2015 be approved

With reference to minute 63 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 5^th November 2015 relating to application 14/012110/OT – update on the appeal relating to the refusal of planning permission on a PAS site at East Scholes, LS15, the Head of Planning Services advised that, in accordance with the wishes of the Panel expressed at that meeting, a letter had been sent to Barratt Homes reiterating the Council’s wish to work with them on more acceptable sites and asking them to withdraw the appeal on the East Scholes site.  A written response to that request had been received which indicated the developer did wish to work with the Council and confirmation was received on 25^th November that Barratt Homes had formally withdrawn the appeal on the East Scholes site.  A similar approach had been made to Miller Homes, the appellants in the Breary Lane Bramhope and Leeds Road Collingham appeals, and that a meeting was to take place on 27^th November, with Officers hoping the outcome of that meeting would be as positive

  The decision by Barratt Homes was welcomed by the Panel and the need for developers to work with communities was stressed

Further to minute 112 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 22^nd January 2015, where Panel considered a position statement on an outline application for mixed use redevelopment including A1, A3, A4 and A5 uses, offices (B1), residential (C3), medical centre (D1), college (D1), student residential accommodation, multi storey car park, basement car parking, access and open space, to consider a further report of the Chief Planning Officer setting out the formal application

(report attached)

Further to minute 112 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 22^nd January 2015, where Panel considered a position statement on a mixed use development at Quarry Hill, the Panel considered a further report setting out the formal application

  Photographs, including an historic image of Quarry Hill flats, graphics and plans, including a sun path diagram were displayed at the meeting.  A Members site visit had taken place earlier in the day

  Officers presented the report which sought outline approval for a major mixed use scheme and provided information on the context of the site in relation to existing and proposed development, including Victoria Gate which was well under way

  Details of the scheme were outlined, with these including vehicular and pedestrian access; scale and massing of the blocks; car parking provision;  landscaping treatment; levels of open space and the range of uses proposed for the different buildings on the site.  The flexibility of the scheme was stressed with some blocks being designated different possible uses, e.g. office or college use

  The receipt of a letter of support from West Yorkshire Playhouse was reported and read out to Members

  Members were also informed that in terms of the footbridge over the A64(M), the applicant had agreed to fund the works to £50,000, with this to be included in the S106 agreement

  Members discussed the application and in response to questions from the Panel additional information was provided in respect of:

·  the location of the closest bus stops on York Road.  These were highlighted to Members

·  the proximity of the site to the Cultural Quarter of Leeds and whether the development added to this.  Members were informed that the proposed mix of uses in the application were acceptable for the site, however if a different, more cultural use came forward for part of the site, subject to the view of Panel, this in general terms could be acceptable

·  the height of the buildings and whether a wind analysis had been undertaken.  The Principal Planning Officer advised that the detailed design of the proposals including building entrances, public seating areas and landscape arrangements would need to be informed by further wind testing at the Reserved Matters stage.  However, the Council’s independent wind consultants had confirmed that that the submitted wind study demonstrated that the proposals, subject to detailed design, would achieve an acceptable wind environment

·  local employment and the need for those wards closest to the site, which included Burmantofts and Richmond Hill, to benefit from the jobs being created through the scheme.  The Deputy Area Planning Manager outlined the established process of securing local employment, through the Council’s Jobs and Skills team

·  possible flooding issues.  The Panel was advised that a flood risk assessment and drainage strategy had been assessed and that technical conditions were included on the outline application to address these issues

·  concerns about the phasing of the proposals and the need to ensure the other uses around the site were not impacted upon

·  car parking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on a Reserved Matters application for the erection of residential development

(report attached)

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

  Officers presented the report which sought determination of the Reserved Matters application to be deferred and delegated to the Chief Planning Officer subject to conditions and the resolution of outstanding matters as set out in the report before Panel

  City Plans Panel had previously considered the outline application on this Protected Area of Search (PAS) site, with a key element of the justification for bringing the site forward at this time being the financial contribution to be made to the delivery of flood defences to the north of the village

  The Reserved Matters proposals were outlined with Members being informed that a revised layout plan had recently been submitted, with 219 dwellings proposed for the site, comprising predominantly two storey dwellings, but with some two and a half and three storey properties in the centre of the site.  Affordable housing of 12.7% - which equated to 27 dwellings - would be located across the site

  Details of the housing mix across the site were provided, with Members being informed that three of the 3 bed dwellings were to be swapped for three 4 bed dwellings.  In terms of the 3 bed properties, these could be utilised as a 2 bed dwelling with a study.  On the issue of space standards, Members were informed that limited weight could be given to the National Space Standards as the Council had not yet gone through a formal process to adopt them

  Designs of house types were outlined with Members being informed that the materials would comprise brick of a colour appropriate to Methley, artstone and possibly a darker coloured roof tile than was shown on the graphic

  In terms of outstanding matters, Officers were continuing to work with the applicant on a small area in the south west corner of the site and that a revised layout which had been submitted had been sent to Highways for checking and to Yorkshire Water for confirmation they were satisfied with the revised layout

  The Panel discussed the application, with the main issues being raised relating to:

·  car parking.  Members were informed that the scheme provided two parking spaces per dwelling which met Highways car parking requirements.  Concerns continued to be raised about the level of car parking in what would be a car dominant development and how visitor parking would be accommodated,

·  bin storage, with details of the siting of this being provided for the different types of dwelling on the site

·  housing mix; that the local community had expressed the desire for bungalows to be included but none were proposed.  Members were informed this request had been taken back to the applicant but had been advised that bungalows did not work for the applicant in terms of viability

·  the number of two bed properties in the scheme and whether these could be increased to ensure mixed communities were created.  Officers confirmed that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on pre-application proposals for a mixed use development comprising three blocks of residential apartments, with ground floor commercial and office units, car parking and a landscape scheme and to receive a presentation on behalf of the developers

This is a pre-application presentation and no formal decision on the development will be taken, however it is an opportunity for Panel Members to ask questions, raise issues, seek clarification and comment on the proposals at this stage. A ward member or a nominated community representative has a maximum of 15 minutes to present their comments. 

(report attached)

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

  The Panel considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer setting out the emerging proposals for a mixed use development at Granary Wharf car park, which was situated within the defined boundary of Holbeck Urban Village (HUV).  The Deputy Area Planning Manager informed Members that the proposals had been the subject of detailed discussions with Officers and the developer of the Tower Works site and had addressed significant heritage issues relating to the two sites.  The positive response to these issues and the work undertaken with the adjacent landowners provided comfort that a co-ordinated response to the heritage of the area would be a key part of both schemes

Members then received a presentation on the proposals on behalf of the developer, with information being provided which included:

·  the credentials of the developer in delivering high quality, developments in major Yorkshire cities, including Wakefield Waterfront and The Hepworth Gallery

·  that the proposals had been developed as part of an integrated approach with the adjacent Tower Works site as a holistic strategy was considered to be the most appropriate method for this area

·  that the extant approval from 2006 had been office use, whereas what was being proposed for this site was a residential-led scheme with a smaller element of office use with some ancillary A3 uses

·  connectivity and the creation of a boulevard to the Tower Works site and beyond to the wider HUV area

·  that three separate buildings were proposed , with undercroft car parking being provided under Block B

·  the internal layout of the upper floors, with an apartment layout being proposed with central atriums

·  generous sized 1, 2 and 3 bed apartments were to be provided

·  that the setting of the Lock-Keepers cottage would be respected in the scheme and the views of the Listed Towers would be retained

·  that in designing the facades of the buildings, the local vernacular had been the starting point and that inspiration had been drawn from warehousing typology in terms of banding; repeat elevations and deep brick reveals.  The importance of adding interest and depth through the brickwork was highlighted.  Members were advised that although the same materials would be used on all three buildings, the materials would be used differently

·  that a small number of projecting balconies would be provided, with these being of a robust design with glass cheeks

  The Panel discussed the proposals, with the main areas of comment relating to:

·  safety and security issues across the site which featured ginnels and alleys.  Members were informed that the areas would be clean, safe and well-lit and that proactive site management would be provided which would include CCTV although this would need to be integral to the design of the scheme

·  the aim for the site to be seamless with the Tower Works site and in the event of there being exposed walls, how these would be treated.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

  The Chair announced that this was to be the last City Plans Panel meeting for Angela Bloor, the clerk, as she was retiring from the Council

  Members paid generous tributes to Angela for her hard work; professionalism; attentiveness and her humour.  Her organisation behind the scenes and her detailed minutes were also commented on.  The Head of Planning Services thanked Angela for her efforts and for ensuring that agendas were published on time, even on occasions when reports were submitted after her strict deadlines.  Members wished her well in her retirement

Thursday 17^th December 2015 at 1.30pm

  Thursday 17^th December 2015 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds