Agenda item

Further to minute 112 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 21^st November 2013, where Panel considered pre-application proposals for a mixed used development on the former Lumiere development site, to consider a further report of the Chief Planning Officer on the formal application for proposed office (B1) building with ancillary retail (A1), restaurant and café (A3) drinking establishments (A4) and Wellness Centre (D2) uses, with internal and external public open space, access, circulation and landscaping provision, including ancillary structures

(report attached)

  Having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in this matter, Councillor Nash withdrew from the meeting

  Further to minute 112 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 21^st November 2013, where Panel considered pre-application proposals for a mixed use development on the former Lumiere development site at 29 Wellington Street LS1, Members considered a further report of the Chief Planning Officer setting out the formal application

  Officers presented the report which sought approval for an office building with ancillary ground floor retail, restaurant and café, drinking establishments and wellness centre (A1,A3, A4 and D2) uses, with internal and external publicly accessible space and landscaping above basement car parking

  Details of the proposed layout of the accommodation, public areas and basement parking were outlined together with the landscaping proposals and details of materials.  Members were informed that the scheme contained a degree of private rooftop spaces in order to make the office offer more attractive to prospective occupiers

  Regarding the issue of bus stops, it was explained that Metro were in the process of finding an alternative location for the bus service which uses stop W1, located to the north of West Central on Wellington Street, as this stop would compromise the use of guard-rails which are proposed to protect pedestrians from an existing distressful wind environment in the area

  Members were impressed with the scheme although the orientation of the sloping glass wall was queried as it was felt this would be in darkness for much of the day

  A query was raised in relation to the treatment of the parking surface and whether this could lead to flooding.  The Head of Planning Services advised that as the parking was sited in the basement, surface water run-off would be dealt with appropriately

  The possibility of including some reference to the railway heritage of the site was made, with the Chair offering to provide some historic images of the former Central Station, for consideration

  The Panel welcomed the prestigious scheme and the provision of a Winter Garden for the City

  RESOLVED -  To approve the application in principle and to defer and delegate to the Chief Planning Office for approval, subject to the specified conditions and following completion of a Section 106 Agreement to cover the following matters:

  Winter garden to be open 0700 to 2300 every day

  Public transport contribution

-  for the office element: £229,804 payable on first occupation of the office

-  for the ground floor commercial uses: £25,644 total – proportions to be paid on occupation of each unit

Travel Plan items

-  agreed travel plan

-  travel plan review fee £11,810

-  car club spaces

-  funding for free trial membership and usage of car club for office workers - £11,000

-  electric car charging points: 5% of spaces (6 no) with charging infrastructure, rising to 10% (12 no) if the first 5% are fully utilised

Highway works:

Financial contribution towards laying out of Whitehall Road/Northern Street Junction - £69,000

Provision of off site highways works consisting of:

-  relocation of pedestrian crossing on Wellington Street

-  relocation of 2 bus stops on Whitehall Road including outbound stop being a shelter with Real Time Information facility

-  pedestrian guard railing to Wellington Street frontage

-  (These items may be required by condition if considered appropriate)

Jobs and Skills for local people

In the circumstances where the Section 106 has not been completed

within 3 months of the resolution to grant planning permission, the final determination of the application shall be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer

Following consideration of this matter, Councillor Nash resumed her

seat in the meeting