Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer providing a summary of the representations received to the publication consultation on the Site Allocations Plan (SAP) with specific regard to Retail. The report discusses the issues raised in the representations to the Plan, with recommendations for consideration in determining how the council should respond for all areas except the City Centre. The report also includes recommendations for Major Modifications to the SAP.

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which provided a summary of the representations received to the publication consultation on the Site Allocations Plan (SAP) with specific regard to Retail.

Louise White,Principal Planner (Retail), presented the report and discussed the issues raised in the 26 representations received, including the recommendations for consideration in order to determine how the Council should respond, for all areas except the city centre. Additionally the report included recommendations for Major Modifications to the SAP.

With regard to the City Centre, in light of the representations received, it was noted that officers felt the Plan policies needed to better reflect retail as a leisure activity and address the impact of revised Permitted Development Rights. As such, proposals for the City Centre would be brought forward following discussion with shopping centre owners.

Discussions were noted on the following matters:

Kirkstall –

Generally welcomed the proposals to retain the current Kirkstall Town Centre site boundary in order to retain future Town Centre uses, noting that this site currently included some retail elements and that other localities such as Headingley had successful split retail sites

Acknowledged that regeneration of the Kirkstall Town Centre site could be dependent on retaining retail element

Commented that the proposed Primary Frontage designation to Kirkstall Bridge Retail Park could prevent future development of the Town Centre site and suggested proposing secondary frontage designation instead

Officers agreed to further consider comments about the current mixed use of the Kirkstall Town Centre site and future Kirkstall Bridge Retail Park frontage designation in order to avoid preventing future regeneration of the whole site.

Yeadon -

A comment was noted that, had permission not been granted for the Aldi foodstore, this site would have been considered for removal from retail

Members supported officers’ view that this site was not yet ready to be designated as Primary Frontage as the store was not yet built.

Major Modification - Guiseley White Cross -

A comment was noted that a single Aldi store at this location did not support a Higher Order Local Centre designation. The balance of uses nearby, including residential had to be considered.

In response, Members noted once the foodstore was constructed, this site would meet the requirements for either a Higher or Lower Order Centre.

Morley – In response to comments that the report did not reflect submissions from Morley Town Council, officers explained that not all submissions had been collated yet. A further comment on perceived inconsistencies regarding the inclusion of religious/cultural/community centres within some centre boundaries and not others was also addressed.

RESOLVED-

a)  To note the summary representations on retail to the draft Site Allocations Plan consultation as contained in Appendix A of the submitted report

b)  That, having considered the issues set out in Section 4 of the submitted report, along with the accompanying policy and plans contained within Appendices B to M, the Panel give approval to the following recommendations as set out in Section 4:

i) City Centre HMCA - That the contents of the summary in paragraphs 4.1.1 to 4.1.5 be noted and that approval be given for Policy RTC2 to be reviewed in light of the representations, particularly with respect to permitted development rights and frontage designations.

ii) Inner HMCA Cardigan Road Local Centre - In line with the considerations contained in paragraphs 4.2.1 to 4.2.3, approval be given for the extent of the Cardigan Road local centre boundary to be reduced, by the removing land formerly occupied by a glassworks

iii) Inner HMCA Hyde Park Corner Local Centre - In line with the considerations contained within paragraphs 4.2.5 to 4.2.8, approval be given for the boundary of the Hyde Park Local Centre to be extended to include property at 25a and 27-29 Headingley Lane and 221 Woodhouse Street.

iv) Inner HMCA Royal Parks Local Centre - In line with the considerations contained in paragraphs 4.2.10 to 4.2.12, approval be given for the name "Royal Parks Local Centre" to be retained

v) Inner HMCA Harehills Lane Local Centre - In line with the considerations contained in paragraphs 4.2.14 and 4.2.15, the Panel noted that no action was required in respect of the representation

vi) Inner HMCA Burley Lodge (Woodsley Road) Local Centre - In line with the considerations contained within paragraphs 4.2.17 to 4.2.19, approval be given for the boundary of the Burley Lodge Local Centre to be extended to include the Multi-Cultural Community Centre at 64 Woodsley Road

vii) North HMCA Kirkstall Bridge Retail Park at Kirkstall Town Centre – Having discussed the considerations contained within paragraphs 4.3.1 to 4.3.6, a decision on the proposal to update the Kirkstall Town Plan Centre plan to identify the current layout and Primary Frontages to the Kirkstall Bridge Retail Park be deferred at the current time. Officers be authorised to review current site use and consider the suggestion to designate Secondary Frontage (retail) in order to avoid the designation preventing future regeneration of the whole site.

viii) Aireborough HMCA Proposed new centre at White Cross Guiseley - In line with the considerations contained within paragraphs 4.4.1 to 4.4.2, the White Cross area is not identified as a Higher Order Local Centre at the current time.

Notwithstanding this, approval be given to the request in the future circumstance where a new Higher Order Local Centre at White Cross can be identified; and this would be subject to all of the following be satisfied prior to the Council's proposed Major Modifications to the SAP or during examination of the SAP:

·  The Aldi superstore is built

·  there is adequate evidence before Officers to demonstrate that the creation of a new centre is required in accordance with Core Strategy Policy P7 (contained as appendix 3 of the submitted report); and that the centre comprises a mix of the main Town Centre uses listed in Core Strategy Policy P3;

·  A new Centre boundary can be agreed.

ix) Yeadon Town Centre - In line with the considerations contained within paragraphs 4.4.4 and 4.4.5, no amendments will be made to Yeadon Town Centre at the current time, however Officers are to amend the Primary Shopping Area or define the food store as Primary Frontage should there be sufficient evidence to do this in the future and the permitted food store is built prior to the Council's proposed Major Modifications to the SAP or during examination of the SAP.

x) Outer South and Outer South West HMCA's, Rothwell Town Centre and Drighlington Lower Order Local Centre - In line with the considerations contained within paragraphs 4.5.1 to 4.5.2, no amendments will be made to the Rothwell Town Centre boundary and Drighlington Local Centre boundaries at the present time, however Officers are to amend the centre boundaries in both locations accordingly should the permitted food stores be built prior to the Council's proposed Major Modifications to the SAP or during examination of the SAP

c)  That, having considered the proposed Major Modifications to the SAP, the following be agreed:

1)  Approval be given to the Major Modifications to the SAP on retail as set out in Section 5 (i to iv)of the submitted report, relating specifically to the following Centre boundaries:

i. The reduction of the boundary to Cardigan Road Local Centre;

ii. The expansion of the boundary at Hyde Park Corner Local Centre;

iii. The expansion of the boundary at Burley Lodge (Woodsley Road) Local Centre; and,

2)  The addition of Primary Frontage at Kirkstall Bridge Retail Park within Kirkstall Town Centre be deferred at the present time in order to allow officers time to consider the implications of Primary Frontage designation on the future regeneration of the whole site and the merits of Secondary Frontage designation instead