Agenda item

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on an application for demolition of existing derelict building and construction of 14 apartments with associated access and parking

(report attached)

  Plans, drawings, photographs and graphics were displayed at the meeting

  Officers presented a report on an application for the demolition of an existing building and the construction of a small residential development, comprising 14 apartments together with access and parking at 16 Harehills Lane LS7

  Whilst the recommendation before Panel was to refuse the application,  Members were advised that following the discovery that the ownership certificate had been incorrectly completed and served with the application, it had been necessary to serve the owner with the correct notice, which had now been done.  Therefore the recommendation should be amended to defer and delegate refusal of the application to the Chief Planning Officer for the reasons set out in the submitted report

  Details of the application relating to the planning history of the site; the proposed access arrangements; amenity areas; scale of the proposals; landscaping details, including root protection zones of those trees which would be most affected by the development were outlined to Panel.  A series of images showing the deterioration of the existing building over a period of years were also shown.  Although it was accepted that the site required redevelopment, it was the view of Officers that the submitted scheme was overdevelopment of the site and could not be supported

  The Panel heard representations from the applicant and his agent, with the main issues being raised relating to:

·  that an earlier scheme had been refused planning permission and that this scheme had been significantly revised to overcome the concerns raised in respect of the previous scheme

·  tree protection issues and that the development could be built to ensure the survival of all of the trees on the site

·  that no objections had been received to the proposals

·  the state of the existing building and the need for the site to be redeveloped

·  the property market which remained challenging and that any further reduction in the number of apartments proposed would delay the regeneration of the site and might not be financially viable

The Panel discussed the application, with the key issues raised relating

to:

·  an indication of a form of development on the site which could be supported.  The Head of Planning Services suggested that positioning the building deeper into the site and reconsidering the orientation of the apartments and providing amenity space to the front and rear might be a starting point for a revised scheme

·  the need for the site to be redeveloped, with possibly 12 units being considered more appropriate

·  that if the current level of units was to be maintained in the event of a further submission, financial viability information would be expected if full planning contributions were not being offered

The Panel considered how to proceed with Members indicating an

unwillingness to defer and delegate refusal of the scheme before them

  An alternative proposal to defer determination for further discussions was proposed and seconded

  RESOLVED – That determination of the application be deferred to enable discussions to take place about a reduced form of development.  In the event such a scheme did come forward, subject to the Ward Members being satisfied on the proposals, that the application could be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer for determination