Agenda item

To receive a report of the Chief Planning Officer with regards to an Extension of time of previous approval 08/02061/FU for multi-level development up to 9 storey's high above ground level comprising 46 student cluster flats and 24 studio flats (total of 239 beds) and 1 retail unit, car parking, common room and ancillary facilities.

  Councillor J Lewis joined the meeting at this point

  Plans, photographs, graphics and a sample panel of the proposed materials were displayed at the meeting

  Officers presented the report which sought an extension of time limit for the implementation of a scheme for student housing approved in principle at the former Plans Panel City Centre on 11^th September 2008 and granted planning permission on 15^th September 2009

  Members were informed that all parts of the scheme were exactly the same as the original approved scheme.  Although there had been changes to both the development plan and national planning guidance since the original application was granted consent, as detailed in the Chief Planning Officer’s report to Panel, it was recommended to Members to approve the application in principle and to defer and delegate approval to the Chief Planning Officer subject to conditions and the completion of a S106 Agreement Deed of Variation

  Although there were no registered speakers to this application, the Chair informed Members that the applicant’s agent was in attendance to respond to questions from the Panel, if required

  Members considered the application, with the key areas of discussion relating to:

·  the design principles of buildings in this location

·  the need for further student housing

·  the impact of large scale student developments in this area and the concerns which had been raised at the time these applications had begun to emerge

·  the sizes of some of the studios, particularly those at 19.4sqm and the need for these to be enlarged or reconfigured into cluster flats.  Officers agreed to pursue this issue with the developer

·  the proposed materials; their durability and weathering; how the condition relating to the materials would be discharged; the design of the windows and the coloured glazed elements

·  that the application dated from 2002 with concerns that Panel was being asked to accept something which was dated and did not provide the space Members would require in an application submitted in 2014

·  the reasons for the delay in implementing the planning permission and the likelihood of the scheme being delivered.  The Chair invited the applicant’s agent to respond to these points

To assist Members with their deliberations, the Head of Planning

Services stated that extension of time applications had been brought in by the Government to help deal with the effects of the recession, although only one extension of time application could be made.  It was possible to amend the time period for implementation, with a period of 18 months being suggested for Members’ consideration.  Whatever time limit was agreed if the approval had not been implemented, the applicant would need to reapply

  Regarding the room sizes, the Head of Planning Services stated that standards were changing; the Council was moving to a ‘ Leeds Standard’ for residential dwellings and that guidance was also being proposed as part of a National Standard

  Members continued to discuss how to proceed and noted the applicant’s agent’s request for a minimum period of 2 years for implementation

  RESOLVED -  To defer and delegate to the Chief Planning Officer for approval in principle, subject to the conditions set out in the submitted report; with an amendment to condition 1 to specify the period of implementation of the planning approval to be 18 months from the date of the permission;  further discussions with the applicant to secure a minimum acceptable studio size or reconfiguration to provide an improved layout by incorporating the smaller studios into the adjacent cluster flats and following the completion of a Section 106 Agreement Deed of Variation to cover the following matters:

·  restriction of use to full-time students only

·  travel plan implementation and monitoring fee prior to occupation - £2500

·  £8,000 -  student cycles for hire contribution

·  £15,000 – provision of Metro tickets

·  £10,000 – contribution for improved pedestrian links/public realm enhancement

·  public access

·  enhancements to local Traffic Regulation Orders if necessary and new TROs for new off-street servicing facilities

·  employment and training opportunities for local people in City and Hunslet Ward or any adjoining Ward

·  management fee payable within one month of commencement of development - £2250

In the circumstances where the Section 106 Agreement has not been completed within 2 months of the resolution to grant planning permission, the final determination of the application shall be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer.  In the event that a satisfactory outcome cannot be achieved on the size of the small studios, that the application be returned to Panel for final determination