Agenda item

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on the latest position in respect of applications for large scale advertisements at various locations across the City Centre

(report attached)

  Prior to consideration of this matter, Councillor Latty left the meeting

Further to minute 25 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 17^th July 2014, where Panel considered a pre-application presentation on proposals for advertisement consent for 11 applications, 10 of which were large scale illuminated advertisement hoardings and 1 digital advertisement unit at sites located within or close to the City Centre boundary, mainly along the main arterial routes in and out of the city, Members considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer on the current position in respect of these proposals.  A supplementary report providing updated information on the individual applications which had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting was also considered

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

The Deputy Area Planning Manager presented the proposals and informed the Panel that the Council had entered into a contract with JC Decaux to evolve the Council’s existing advertising portfolio.  The proposals would see 22 existing hoardings at 10 sites being removed and 11 new advertisement units being provided

The Panel considered and commented on each application

To assist Members in understanding the background to the proposals,

the Chief Planning Officer stated that the income generated from the proposals would help fund other Council services and that as a planning authority, issues relating to public safety and visual amenity needed to be considered

  Although a number of the proposals were considered to be acceptable in principle, concerns were raised in respect of some sites, which included siting; highways concerns, particularly in relation to servicing; possible distraction to drivers due to the size of the units and their location

  It was noted that Highways Officers had concerns about some of the applications and that further information was required on several of the sites

  In respect of the specific matters raised in the report, the following comments were provided:

·  that Members were satisfied that the visual impact from the proposals were acceptable for several of the locations, but concerns remained about particular sites

·  that in light of concerns raised by Highways Officers that further detail on road safety measures and servicing assessments were required to support the applications

In particular, Members had concerns with the following sites:

·  14/06617/ADV – adjacent to the Woodhouse Lane multi-storey car park – the display was considered too dominant in its impact and would create a traffic hazard.  This was not supported

·  14/06618/ADV – Sheepscar Junction – the sign was too dominant and would add to the street clutter and there was a need to address these concerns and to resolve highway concerns

·  14/06621/ADV – Crown Point Road – there was a need to reconsider the design and exact location and that siting this to the east would be an improvement

·  14/06626/ADV – Kirkstall Road – concern this could impact on drivers exiting the West Street car park and could conflict with highway signs.  It was recommended that the sign be relocated further to the right when viewed from the west

RESOLVED -  To note the report, the supplementary information, the

Officer presentation and comments and views of Panel and that the following applications be deferred and delegated to the Chief Planning Officer for determination, subject to resolving detailed highway safety matters:

14/06627/ADV – Victoria Road

14/06625/ADV – Claypit Lane bridge

14/06624/ADV – Meadow Lane

14/06623/ADV – Inner Ring Road/Woodhouse Lane

14/06622/ADV – Hunslet Road

14/06620/ADV – near Domestic Road

14/06619/ADV – Wellington Road

and that the following site proposals be brought back to Panel for determination:

14/06617/ADV; 14/06618/ADV; 14/06621/ADV and 14/06626/ADV

  During consideration of this matter, Councillor Ingham and Councillor Leadley left the meeting