Agenda item

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on the demolition of pilot plant building and construction of a new four storey research laboratory building with office accommodation at rear of the Houldsworth Building

(report attached)

Plans, photographs, graphics and sample materials were displayed at the meeting. Members had previously received an informal pre-application presentation on the scheme. The scheme had been amended to reflect Members comments, section 5.0 of the submitted report refers.

Officers presented a report which set out details of the application which included the demolition of pilot plant building and construction of a new 4 storey research laboratory building with office accommodation at the rear of the Houldsworth Building, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane and Clarendon Road, Woodhouse , Leeds 2

Detailed information was provided on the proposal in relation to the following issues:

·  The location of the proposal within the University campus

·  Access arrangements

·  An explanation of the floor plans and the type of facilities that would be included on each level

·  The elevations of the building to consist of bronze metallic cladding

·  Eastern elevation to be finished in red brick and metal mesh, brise soleil to be added to the recessed windows of the south and south west elevations

·  Pedestrian areas to be enhanced

·  Paving improvement scheme

·  The Section 106 agreement request to include two replacement bus shelters on Clarendon Road has now been agreed by the applicant

Members sought clarification on the following matters:

• Would photovoltaics be included within the development?
• Possibility of an additional tree within St Georges Field to enhance views at the boundary wall

The following responses were provided:

• No photovoltaics were proposed to be included within the development. However the development aims to achieve a BREEAM target of very good which is considered acceptable for the scale and nature of the proposals. The details of how this would be achieved would be controlled by condition
• The request for a further tree within St.Georges Field will be raised with the applicant

Members comments:

• Would like further discussions on the use of photovolaics
• Support the provision  of new bus shelters
• Support enhanced pedestrian areas

Members expressed their thanks to officers for the work they had undertaken on this scheme and to the developers for their willingness to take on board the comments made by Members

RESOLVED – To approve the application in principal and to defer and delegate final approval to the Chief Planning Officer subject to the conditions specified in the submitted report and the completion of a legal agreement  within 3 months from the date of resolution unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Chief Planning Officer to include the following obligations:

• Public Transport contribution of £26,486
• Travel Plan with monitoring fee of £2,500
• Two replacement bus shelters on Clarendon Road at a total cost of £20,000
• Agreement to contribute £20,000 if there is any detrimental impact on surrounding communities from the loss of car parking (to span a 10 year period)
• Commitment to use reasonable endeavours to cooperate with LCC Jobs and Skills Service during post construction regarding employment at the site and use local contractors, sub –contractors and material suppliers
• £600 monitoring fee for each clause that requires administration/ management/ monitoring (public transport contribution, off site parking contribution)