Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director of City Development on progress in relation to Non-Council Owned Brownfield Sites.

Referring to Minute 37 of the meeting held on 25^th September 2012, the Director of City Development submitted a report on progress in relation to Non-Council Owned Brownfield Sites.

Appended to the report was a copy of a document entitled ‘Non-Council Owned Brownfield Sites’ (Appendix 1 refers) for the information/comment of the meeting.

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:

-  Councillor P Gruen, Executive Member, Neighbourhoods, Planning 

and Support Services

-  Ms Christine Addison, Acting Chief Asset Management Officer, City 

Development

-  Mr Adam Brannen, Programme Manager, City Development

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

In summary, specific reference was made to a number of issues including:

• Clarification of the total number of non-Council owned Brownfield sites identified within the appendix

(The Programme Manager responded and informed the meeting that the total number was 19,500)

• Clarification of how many of these brownfield sites were included in the SHLAA

(The Programme Manager responded and informed the meeting that the department had tried to incorporate every site they were aware of apart from windfall sites)

• Clarification of the latest position with regards to the former library buildings on York Road and Mount St Mary’s church

(The Acting Chief Asset Management Officer responded that the former library buildings on York Road had been discussed at the Scrutiny Board (Resources and Council Services). It was the general consensus of that meeting that a supermarket was needed in the York Road area)

• Clarification if the list of sites within the appendices were privately owned land or included Government and agency land. Particular reference was made to the Wharfedale Hospital site

(The Programme Manager responded and confirmed that the list referred to non-council owned land and included other agencies and government land where known. He confirmed that this list was evolving and could be added to on a regular basis as other sites became known)

• Clarification of how many sites would get built out of the 19,500 on the list

(The Programme Manager responded and informed the meeting that he was not in a position to speculate on the actual numbers)

• Clarification of how the Central Governments scheme on unlocking stalled brownfield sites was progressing

(The Programme Manager responded and made specific reference to ATLAS, the government initiative for Leeds which was one of the first cities to be offered support by the Homes and Community Agency’s expert brokers who would spearhead a fresh drive to get stalled housing deals up and running and builders back on moth-balled sites.

It was noted that the Chief Planning Officer had met with the ATLAS team)

• Clarification of what action the Council had taken on each site listed to proactively engage with owners and developers to help get as many of these stalled brownfield sites redeveloped for housing

• Clarification of the Kirkstall Forge Scheme
• The need for the Board to be supplied with details of the owners of non Brownfield sites where known
• The need for the Board to be supplied with details of the sites listed which were included in the SHLAA
• Clarification of the current position in relation to Shaftesbury Public House

(The Programme Manager agreed to investigate this issue and respond to the relevant Board Member)

• The need for the Acting Chief Asset Management Officer to go through the list of sites with a view to identifying the status of discussions and the prospect of future development and for this list to be circulated to all Members of Council

(The Acting Chief Asset Management Officer responded and agreed to undertake this area of work)

RESOLVED-

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That a further report be submitted to the next meeting in November to include the following information:-

• details of the owners of non Brownfield sites where known
• which sites listed were included in the SHLAA
• what action the Council had taken on each site listed to proactively engage with owners and developers to help get as many of these stalled brownfield sites redeveloped for housing
• what progress had been made to date in relation to ATLAS, the government initiative for Leeds which was one of the first cities to be offered support by the Homes and Community Agency’s expert brokers who would spearhead a fresh drive to get stalled housing deals up and running and builders back on moth-balled sites