Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer on an application for the demolition of all buildings at the former Park Lane College Building and the erection of a low carbon Energy Centre, primary substation, transformers and a gas meter unit; and associated landscaping, means of enclosure and highways works, including the realignment of Ladybeck Close, at the former Park Lane College Building, Bridge Street, 1-2 and 27-30 Ladybeck Close, Leeds LS2

(Report attached)

Further to minute 93 of the meeting held 12^th May 2011 when the Panel considered a position statement on the proposals, the Chief Planning Officer submitted a report on the application for determination. Plans of the site, elevations, artists impressions of the development in situ on the streetscene and slides showing proposed details of the cladding and colours of materials were displayed at the meeting. A Member site visit had taken place prior to the meeting. Officers outlined revisions made to the scheme since the presentation on 12 May 2011 as being:

• Enhanced landscaping to the rear of the development
• Minor changes to the highways to provide better sight lines
• Reduction of 1.3 m in height to the south west corner
• Reduction in scale of panels to be used
• Height of the elevation facing Ladybeck hostel reduced by 1.3m for a 12 m length. Members noted that the height was now the minimum required for the unit to be operational

(Councillor A Blackburn re-joined the meeting)

Photographs showing elevations of other Leeds buildings and slides showing the proposed finish to the Energy Centre using those colours were displayed for reference. It was noted that conditions would cover materials and submission of 1:20 details of the mesh covering. Officers would also seek to secure treatment to enhance the appearance of the Ring Road retaining wall which was in the ownership of Leeds City Council by planning condition.

Officers reported receipt of two further letters of representation in support of the scheme.

Members discussed the following

• Previous request to relocate the Energy Centre elsewhere on the site. Officers responded the proposed location of the transformers near to the Ring Road was the best option due to the low hum they emitted. Additionally, the Energy Centre was required to support the EHQ development and views to it from the Market would be obscured by Eastgate. However the Civic Architect warned that the Centre would be visible if the EHQ scheme did not go ahead
• Colour of materials to be used
• Relationship of the Centre with other buildings in the locality
• Whether there was a health and safety risk in connection of the centre, noting the officer response that these aspects would be covered by relevant legislation and be addressed in the General Environment Management Plan
• The need to condition provision of screening works to the Ring Road elevation
• Whether works could be conditioned to fund noise attenuation works to the Ring Road Bridge parapet
• Noted the design of the Centre attracted diverse opinions

The Panel noted the revised wording to the recommendation contained within the supplementary document sent out after the agenda was despatched and

RESOLVED - 

a)  That the application be granted subject to the specified conditions (and any minor variations and any others which might be considered appropriate).

b)  Noted that the ‘Reasons for approval’ should read:

The application is considered to comply with policies GP5, BD2, BD5, T2, CC4, N12, N13, N25, N26 of the UDP Review, as well as guidance contained within The Leeds City Centre Urban Design Strategy (September 2000), Eastgate and Harewood Supplementary Planning Document (October 2005), Building for Tomorrow Today – Sustainable Design and Construction (Draft), The RSS for Yorkshire and Humber, PPS1 General Policies and Guidance, PPG13 Transport, PPS22 Renewable Energy, PPS23 Planning and Pollution Control, PPG24 Planning and Noise, PPS25 Development and Flood Risk.  The application has been fully considered in respect of its sustainability benefits, impact on amenity and the Environmental Statement and having regard to all other material considerations.