Agenda item

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer for a Digital Media Screen to Shopping Centre and  variation of Condition 45 of Application Ref No 1/03290/FU (Change of Use from Retail (A1) to Food and Drink, Health Clinic and Leisure Uses (A3, A4,D1/D2) and Ancillary Mall Space; Associated Public Realm Works, External Alterations including Improved Entrance to Existing Shopping Centre and Associated Works as a Revision to Planning Application Ref No P/09/01742/FU) for a Minor Material Amendment to Modify the Alignment of the Bond Street/Albion Street Corner at First and Second Floor Levels to Accommodate a Digital Media Screen at Trinity West Shopping Centre, Albion Street, LS1.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented alterations to form Digital Media Advertising Display and for one Illuminated Digital Media Advertising Display at 59-61 Albion Street, Leeds 1.

Appended to the report was a copy of conditions to be attached to Application 12/03409/FU/C for the information/comment of the meeting.

In addition to the above documents, an addendum report referring to comments from the Council’s Conservation Officer was circulated for consideration as part of the application.

Members were shown detailed plans and photographs of the site and had previously visited the site prior to the meeting.

Daljit Singh, Deputy Area Planning Manager briefly outlined the proposals contained in the submitted report.

The Chair then invited questions from Members on the specific proposals of the application and no issues were raised.

Prior to determining the application, the Chair then invited comments from Members on the proposals.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

• The concern expressed that the site was very prominent and was on the edge of the Conservation area
• The view expressed that the digital media screen complimented the building and area
• The concern expressed that the digital media screen did not look right as the building was very dominant and the screen would be very intrusive
• The need to have a city centre digital advertising policy in place before considering applications of this nature and to adhere to English Heritage’s National Policy guidelines on digital advertising

In relation to a request for a city centre advertising policy, the Chief Planning Officer responded and confirmed that officers would address this issue. He referred to the Trinity West scheme and reminded the meeting that there was previous support of Members towards a proposal for a digital screen.

Prior to making a decision on this application, Councillor E Nash put forward the following amendment to the recommendation in the report which was seconded by Councillor C Campbell:-

‘That this application be deferred until such time that the Council had a policy on digital advertising in place’

The amendment was voted upon and lost.

RESOLVED –

(i) Application 12/03408/ADV

a) That the application be deferred and delegated to the Chief Planning Officer for approval, subject to the specified conditions and following completion of a Section 106 Agreement to cover the City Council’s use of the screen for the advertising of public events and community related issues and information:

1. The screen hereby approved shall only be used for the display of commercial advertising and shall at no time be used for the display of sporting or entertainment events.

R. The Local Planning Authority is mindful of the fact that the screen faces out in to a busy cross roads and that the gathering of a crowd in this area may hinder the free flow of pedestrians on the public highway.

2. For the avoidance of doubt, there will be no playing of music or speech or other amplified sound in connection with the screen whatsoever.

R. For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of amenity.

3. The brightness of the screen shall be no greater than 6,000 candela per sq metre unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

R. In the interests of visual amenity.

(ii) Application 12/03409/FU

b) That the application be deferred and delegated to the Chief Planning Officer for approval, subject to the specified conditions attached to previous permission 11/03290/FU contained in Appendix 1 of the report, the expiration of the public notice period and following completion of a Deed of Variation of the existing Section 106 attached to previous permission 11/03290/FU which ensures the obligations attached to that permission are brought forward and applied to this.

(Councillor Leadley and Councillor Campbell wished it to be recorded that they voted against the recommendation and that Councillor Nash abstained from voting)