Agenda item

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on an application for a proposal for 160 apartments, B1 office space, 30 car parking spaces and rear amenity deck at 2 Skinner Lane.

(report attached)

  Plans, photographs and graphics were displayed at the meeting.  A Members site visit had taken place earlier in the day

  Officers presented the report which sought approval for a nine storey residential development with ground floor office units on a site currently being used as a temporary surface car park on land fronting Skinner Lane.  Details of a previously approved scheme for residential and office use were provided, with Members being informed that the current application was lower in height and depth than that of the previously consented scheme

  The floor plans were outlined to Panel, together with the proposals for an amenity deck sited above the car park.  Proposed materials of glazing and wood had been selected to reference the materials of the buildings on either side of the site

If minded to support the Officer’s recommendation, the Chief Planning

Officer proposed an additional condition restricting the use of the car park to occupiers of the development only

  Members commented on the application, with the main issues relating to:

·  sustainability; the need for a high level to be achieved and consideration given to photovoltaics being included

·  the level of unlet/unsold apartments in Leeds.  The Chief Planning Officer advised that through the economic downturn, occupancy levels had been close to 100% in the City, although this was predominantly rented accommodation and that a demand still existed for apartment units

·  bin stores and arrangements for refuse collection

·  the proposed materials; the dominance of wood as seen on the graphics; the type of wood to be used; how it would weather and the need for sample materials to be provided to Panel when considering applications

·  the level of affordable housing units and the desire for a higher number of affordable 2 bed units than being proposed

The Panel considered how to proceed.  Concerns were reiterated

about the need to see samples of the proposed materials.  The Chief Planning Officer stated that the material details would be controlled by planning condition and suggested that further discussions be undertaken with the applicant’s architect on the issue of materials and that samples be provided to be agreed by the Panel prior to the discharge of the planning condition

  RESOLVED -  To defer and delegate to the Chief Planning Officer for approval, subject to the conditions set out in the submitted report, an additional condition in respect of restricting the car parking to use only by occupiers of the building  (and any other conditions which he might consider appropriate) and also the completion of a Section 106 Agreement to include the following obligations:

·  provision of 5% (5no.) affordable housing units

·  £6,000 to make a number of existing TRO’s in the area ‘No Waiting at Any Time’

·  £23,259 public transport infrastructure contribution

·  £2,635, travel plan review fee and travel plan measures including travel plan co-ordinator

·  £7,360 provision of free trial membership of the city car club

·  £11,200 car club parking bay works

·  local employment initiatives

·  any other obligations which arise as part of the application process

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