Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer and receive a pre-application presentation on the proposals for a hotel development on the former D Car Park on land at Portland Crescent, Cookridge Street and Woodhouse Lane, Leeds.

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. There is no opportunity for public speaking about the proposals outlined in the presentation

(Report attached)

The Panel received a presentation on pre-application proposals for the development of a hotel on the former council owned D Car Park which is bounded by Portland Crescent, Cookridge Street and Woodhouse Lane. Members were familiar with the site which was opposite the Civic Hall and were aware of a previous application for a hotel development on the same site. This presentation would afford them the opportunity to comment on and ask questions on the proposals prior to a formal application being submitted. It was noted that no formal decision would be made at this meeting.

The Panel welcomed Mr J Suckley on behalf of the developer who outlined the design changes proposed to meet the requirements of the hotel operator now secured by the developer. Plans, architects drawings and aerial photographs of the site were displayed at the meeting. Slides showing computer generated graphics of the scheme approved in 2009 were shown for comparison with the 2011 scheme and photo montages showing both proposals in situ were displayed which provided views to and across the development from several vantage points.

Mr Suckley outlined the main changes to the scheme and reported that a full application would be submitted in January 2012 with commencement of works on site anticipated in May 2012. Members picked out the following key elements for particular attention to discuss with Mr Suckley:

• relocation of the Hotel entrance and impact on the siting of the taxi pick up/drop off point.
• impact of the glazing to the 13^th floor  and the lift shaft to add relief to the elevations. Members expressed concern over the loss of windows to the south elevation which overlooked Millennium Square as the design of this façade had been the focus of much discussion in 2009.
• design of the Woodhouse Lane elevation
• one Member suggested that glazing to all the elevations would be welcome as this would present an elegant façade which would reflect the historic buildings in the vicinity and echo the design of the Rose Bowl
• impact on the setting of the Civic Hall and views of the Civic Hall from the east
• the inclusion of the bar at the 13^th floor was specific to the hotel operators business model

(Councillor Hamilton left the meeting at this point)

Officers reported that the site plan included in the officer report  was incorrect as required amendment to delete the Academy and bar buildings from within the red line development boundary

Members remained supportive of the principle of a hotel development on this site and had no concerns over the increase in height or the inclusion of a bar but expressed reservations over the deletion of the windows to the southern elevation which they suggested now presented a blank façade to Millennium Square

To sum up, the Panel would wish to see the following matters addressed:

• detail on the relocation of the hotel entrance and impact on the drop off/pick up point
• concerns regarding the southern elevation and loss of fenestration

RESOLVED – To thank Mr Suckley for his presentation and to note the contents of the presentation and the comments of the Panel

(Councillor Jarosz left the meeting at this point)