Agenda and minutes

A Member site visit was held in the morning in connection with the following proposals: the completed Central Square development and Winter Garden on Whitehall Road and the former Majestics site, City Square, Leeds 1 (Application Nos: 16/04913/FU and 16/04914/LI) and was attended by the following Councillors: S McKenna, T Leadley, C Campbell, A Garthwaite and C Macniven.

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 where it was considered necessary to exclude the press or public from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the business to be considered

There were no late items of business

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. 

Councillor J Procter declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Agenda Item No. 7 – Re-modelling of the former Majestic Nightclub, City Square, Leeds 1 (Application No 16/04913/FU). Councillor Procter informed the Panel that he was a Director of a Company that carried out substantial work on behalf of the developers of the scheme (Rushbond). He withdrew from the meeting and took no part in the discussion or voting thereon. 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: D Blackburn and

R Procter

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 27^th October 2016.

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 27^th October 2016, be approved as a true and correct record.

The following issues were raised under Matters Arising:

(i)  Application Nos: 16/02582, 16/02583 and 16/02584 (Minute No. 77 referred) – In providing an update on progress of the applications, the Chief Planning Officer said that ongoing discussions were taking place with the developer on outstanding highway matters. It was anticipated that the Head of Terms for the Section 106 Agreement together with the 278 Agreement may be nearing completion, further plans in respect of drainage matters were awaited.

The Chief Planning Officer suggested that the applicant was aiming to bring the application to Panel in January with a view to starting on site March 2017, subject to obtaining the necessary planning permission. 

In responding to a query as to what advice had been obtained in respect of Legal implications, the Chief Planning Officer reported that Members would receive a separate briefing prior to the application coming before Panel.

(ii)  PREAPP/1600532 – First White Cloth Hall, Kirkgate, Leeds 1 (Minute No.79 referred) – In providing an update the Chair reported that in accordance with resolution (iii) a letter on behalf of this Panel had been sent to the Director of City Development requesting that the process of acquiring the site by means of a Compulsory Purchase Order be expedited

(iii)  With reference to Minute No.33 of the meeting held on 23^rd July 2016, the Chair confirmed that a letter had been sent to the Director of Environment and Housing requesting the improvements to the toilet and washing facilities as soon as possible

(iv)  PREAPP/16/00428 – Proposal for redevelopment of Hume House, Wade Lane, Leeds 2 (Minute No.81 referred) – Referring to the suggestion that the building be “slid” a small distance to the south, but this would be subject to acquiring the necessary land, Councillor Leadley sought clarification as to who owned the land.

The Chief Planning Officer reported that enquiries would be made and reported back to Panel

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of an application for the remodelling of the former Majestic Night Club to create a 6 storey office building with ground floor and commercial B1/A1/A3/A4/D2 uses. Creation of office floors behind retained outer walls and new glazed elevation to roof top addition at City Square, Leeds 1.

(Report attached)

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which set out details of an application for the remodelling of the former Majestic Night Club to create a 6 storey office building with ground floor and commercial B1/A1/A3/A4/D2 uses. Creation of office floors behind retained outer walls and new glazed elevation to roof top addition at City Square, Leeds 1.

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

Addressing the proposal the Chief Planning Officer highlighted the following:

·  Following a fire in 2014 a substantial part of the building’s interior and the majority of the roof were lost, much of the external fabric of the building remained intact

·  The proposal was for a primarily office-led scheme of approximately 6,000 sqm floor space with ground and lower ground levels capable of accommodating Class B1/A1/A3/A4 and D2 uses

·  The new glazed roof was designed to respond to the height of the 2 neighbouring buildings in City Square.

·  The rear wall of the building would be reconstructed to accommodate the insertion of new floor plates

·  The upper floors would be set back resulting in the top floors appearing dome-like when viewed from the ground

·  New windows would be introduced in the original façade at the upper floor levels along Wellington Street and Quebec Street elevations, new windows were also proposed at ground level to either side of the main entrance.

·  The rebuilding of the rear Palm Court area

·  The re-interpretation of many features which had been destroyed, including 1920’s styling

·  Use of high quality materials to be used throughout

·  Entrance canopies to be refined and reduced to a scale commensurate to the proposed use

The Panel then heard from representatives of the Cinema Theatre Association who were objecting to the proposal and referred to the following:

·  The mains grounds of the objection was the fact that more of the original features/ materials should have been retained, in particular the  Palm Court structure

·  The proposed glazed roof was miss-conceived, it was too tall and should be reduced to its original height

·  A photographic record of the building should be retained for historic purposes

·  The were no objections to the proposed office use 

In response to Members questions and comments, the following was discussed:

·  Very little remained of the original Palm Court fabric

·  The proposals would save the building and bring a new use for the site

·  There was a need to retain the spirit of the building

·  What was proposed was a sympathetic treatment of the building 

The applicant’s representative addressed the Panel, speaking in detail about the proposal and highlighted the following:

·  The proposal would create a long term sustainable use for the building

·  The Majestic building occupied a prominent site within City Square

·  A period of 50 years has elapsed since the building had operated as a cinema

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

·  Very little of the original building remained

·  The proposed office use was an appropriate use for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

(Prior to consideration of the following item Councillor J Heselwood vacated the meeting)

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of an hybrid planning application for full planning permission (phase 1) to erect part 5 storey rising to part 10 storey educational building (use Class D 1) including associated access, parking and landscaping and outline planning permission (Phase 2) for part 10 and part 11 storey educational buildings (use class D1) on land at Quarry Hill/ Eastgate, Leeds, LS2 7UP.

(Report attached)

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which set out details of an

Hybrid application for full planning permission (Phase1) to erect part 5 storey, rising to part 10 storey educational building (use class D1) including associated access, parking and landscaping and outline planning permission (Phase 2) for part 10 and part 11 storey educational buildings (use class D1) on land at Quarry Hill/ Eastgate, Leeds, LS2 7UP

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

In addition to the representations referred to in the submitted report, the Chief Planning Officer reported the receipt of further letters of representation as follows:

A petition from a nearby resident containing 23 signatures and an additional letter from a local resident objecting to the loss of greenspace, the biodiversity and visual amenity provided by the site.

In responding officers reported that the matters raised were addressed in section 8.9 of the submitted report and Members were advised that the site was an identified development site that was not a public green space. The loss of existing trees and biodiversity was acknowledged and the development proposal sought to mitigate this through new tree planting, provision of bat roosts and bird boxes, and the provision of green roofs and walls.

A letter from West Yorkshire Playhouse in support of the application, but highlighting potential concerns about impact on West Yorkshire Playhouse’s operations during the construction period.

In responding officers advised that condition No. 24 relating to the construction arrangements could be expanded to require consultation with West Yorkshire Playhouse so that the works caused minimal disruption.

An additional letter of overall support from the Leeds Civic Trust but requiring the details of the filigree screen to be agreed prior to planning permission being granted, raising concerns that the plinth does not engage with the street and should incorporate an entrance and seeking further details of the proposed enhancement to the gateway court area.

Addressing these comments officers advised that the approach to the filigree screen demonstrated that there was opportunity to provide an artistic design that related to the uses within the college and that it was reasonable to control the full details of this by condition. The plinth provided a clear base to the building and a buffer to the busy highway. Its treatment with window openings and green walls provides visual interest and the College’s strategy was to provide entrances from Playhouse Square. The Gateway Court area was outside the ownership of the applicant and not necessary to provide access to the development. However, its improvement would help to better serve the Quarry Hill area generally. Therefore the Council had secured a significant contribution from the sale of the site for development towards these improvements.

A letter of objection from Caddicks (the adjacent landowner) stating that phase 1 should be the same height as Caddick’s block F; that the extension of Playhouse Square adversely affected the opportunity to improve the Gateway Court area; the development should  ...  view the full minutes text for item 92.

To note that the next meeting will take place on Thursday 8^th December 2016 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

RESOLVED – To note that the next meeting will take place on Thursday 8^th December 2016 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.