To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on the current position in respect of an application for demolition of existing buildings and erection of a 6 storey library with ancillary landscaping and Conservation Area application to demolish 2 office buildings
(report attached)
Minutes:
Further to minute 11 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 27th September where Panel received a pre-application presentation for a proposed library at Leeds University, Members considered a position statement on the scheme
Plans, photographs, graphics, story boards and sample materials were displayed at the meeting
Officers presented the report and stated that the proposed student library would enable Leeds University to compete effectively to attract student numbers
Members were informed that the site was a sensitive one and was surrounded by heritage assets, some being Grade II Listed Buildings
One particular building which lay within the site was the former bank building which was now being used as a security office. Whilst the façade of the building was of interest, it was not Listed and that consideration had been given to its retention on site, however, due to the level changes of the building it was not felt this could be retained. For information, Members were informed that English Heritage supported the demolition of the former bank building as the replacement scheme was of higher quality
In terms of landscaping, there would be some loss of trees but replacement planting and new public realm would be provided
In addition to the library use, an ancillary café use would be included, with the ground floor being fully accessible to the public, schools, colleges and other universities. The upper levels would be for use by Leeds University only and would comprise study and book stacking areas, with feature windows providing views across the city and to the adjacent church
Roof top plant would be discrete and not impact on the overall visual effect of the building
The building would provide two entrances; the main entrance being off Woodhouse Lane, with a secondary entrance off Hillary Place
In response to Members’ previous comments, the elevation to Hillary Place had been revised to reduce its dominance to the street. The building had been stepped back and an open podium level had been provided. Whilst the building required a wide footprint, it was not possible to increase its height, so architectural features had been used, e.g. slot windows, to increase the appearance of height. The building frontage now aligned with the smaller building on the adjacent site and benefitted from a simplified and refined palette of materials, comprising mainly Portland Stone and glass. The inclusion of a glass box ‘lantern’ at the top of the building provided vertical emphasis and created a presence on the skyline
Officers reported an objection received from Leeds Civic Trust but felt that this related to the previous version of the scheme and not the one being presented to Panel
Members commented on the following matters:
Officers provided the following responses:
In response to the specific questions raised in the report,
Members provided the following responses:
· Members noted that further details would be provided about the relocation of car parking but were supportive in principle of the proposal to reduce the level of car parking on the site
Members discussed the possibility of deferring and delegating determination of the formal application to the Chief Planning Officer, however the majority of Members favoured the scheme to be considered by Panel
RESOLVED – To note the report and the comments now made and that the Chief Planning Officer be asked to submit a further report in due course, to enable Panel to determine the application
Supporting documents: