Agenda item

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer and to receive a presentation on pre-application proposals for residential development involving demolition of existing buildings, conversion of listed building and new housing comprising circa 92 dwellings with associated parking, public open space and landscaping and conversion of Woodlands to a convenience retail store

(report attached)

This is a pre-application presentation and no formal decision on the development will be taken, however it is an opportunity for Panel Members to ask questions, raise issues, seek clarification and comment on the proposals at this stage. A ward member or a nominated community representative has a maximum of 15 minutes to present their comments

  Plans, photographs and graphics were displayed at the meeting

  Members considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer on pre-application proposals for the redevelopment of the npower site, at Scarcroft, - formerly used by Yorkshire Electricity -  to provide residential accommodation, parking, public open space and a convenience store.  The site was situated in the Scarcroft Conservation Area and was in the Green Belt.  The Panel also received a presentation from the applicant’s agents

  A representation from Councillor R Procter was reported, with the contents of this being outlined to the Panel

  The presentation on behalf of the applicant outlined:

·  the conversion of the Listed Scarcroft Lodge and how this would be managed

·  public open space and landscaping, with some of the trees being retained

·  the height of the dwellings which would be 2.5 storeys, as opposed to the 4 storey office building currently on the site

·  the level of affordable housing, this being 35%

·  the nature of the development which would be bespoke

The Panel then heard from a community representative who outlined

concerns about the proposals, which included:

·  the extent of the proposals which would lead to an increase in the local population beyond what it could cope with

·  the lack of infrastructure to support such an expansion

·  a change to the demographics of Scarcroft and the needs of young families, which could not be met

·  the impact of the proposals on the character of the area

·  impact on a family business

·  highways and that access for emergency vehicles could be compromised

·  the need for more than one access to be provided

·  that the inclusion of a convenience store did not constitute a mixed use for the site

·  flooding issues

·  sustainability issues

The Panel discussed the proposals, with the main areas of debate

being around:

·  employment; where npower would relocate to and the impact this would have on local people currently employed at the site

·  the need for certainty on where the company would relocate to

·  land ownership and that all of what was owned by the applicant had not been included or shown on the submitted plan

·  the lack of basic facilities to support a residential development

·  the parking provision for the convenience store

·  the viability of the convenience store

·  the cost implications of the necessary demolitions, particularly the main concrete office building

·  the need to clarify the amount of affordable dwellings the scheme would provide and the need for information on the viability position of the proposals

·  the extent of the site classed as brownfield land

·  the need for consistency in reports about the coding of sites on the Site Allocations Housing DPD map, as reference was included in the report for this site, but not on application considered earlier in the meeting.  The Head of Planning Services explained there was a difference and that

as a pre-application proposal, the scheme may come forward in the future, whereas the other application referred to had been for determination

  In response to the specific points raised in the report, the Panel provided the following comments:

·  that in principle, some development could be considered to be acceptable but that the form, size and scope of that required further detailing

·  that consideration was needed on the location and viability of a convenience store and that this would need to work for new and existing residents.  Concerns were also expressed about the impact of a convenience store on an existing store in Bardsey

·  that further work was needed around the proposals of npower to re-locate; to understand where the existing workforce came from and the sustainability issues which could arise from a relocation

·  that consideration of issues regarding the design; layout; site access; public transport facilities and planning obligations were premature at this stage

RESOLVED -  To note the report, the presentation and the comments

now made

During consideration of this matter, Councillors Akhtar, Cohen, Lyons

and S McKenna left the meeting