Agenda item

To receive a report of the Chief Planning Officer detailing a Planning Application 16/01115/FU - for a mixed use development across three buildings, comprising residential apartments (use class C3), flexible office (use class B1) or food and drink (use class A3), D1 (Clinics and health centres), undercroft parking and associated landscaping, at Granary Wharf Car Park, Wharf Approach, Holbeck, Leeds, LS11 5PY.

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which detailed an application for a mixed use development across three buildings, comprising residential apartments (use class C3), flexible office (use class B1) or food and drink (use class A3), D1 (Clinics and health centres), undercroft parking and associated landscaping, at Granary Wharf Car Park, Wharf Approach, Holbeck, Leeds, LS11 5PY.

Plans and 3-D visuals of the proposals were displayed and referred to throughout the discussion of the application. Members had also attended a site visit prior to discussion of the item.

Further issues highlighted in relation to the application included the following:

• There would be a total of 250 apartments of which 13 would be affordable homes. Included in this would be 34 car parking spaces and 291 cycle spaces;
• Provision for trees on the site were yet to be finalised;
• A speed table would be introduced on the road that accessed the site;
• Detailed information was provided on the pallet of materials that were to be used on site; and
• The buildings had been designed to give a contextual approach to the areas heritage.
• The need for an additional planning condition to require surface improvements to the canal towpath adjoining the site, inorder to tie in with the proposed public routes through the site and the proposals on the adjacent Tower Works site.

The Panel heard from Mr Considine a resident of the nearby Candle House. He highlighted the reasons for a number of residents objecting to the development which included:

·  The historic nature of the site and its importance to the development of Leeds through the industrial revolution;

·  P11 of the Core Strategy states that historical environments should be preserved and enhanced; and

·  That the buildings proposed were too big.

The Panel heard from Jon Peak of Fazenda restaurant. Mr Peak raised concerns about the loss of parking which would result from the development of the site, which would affect his business, owing to many customers travelling from outside Leeds to visit the restaurant. He also highlighted that the loss of the car park would create more traffic and parking problems in this part of the city.

David Topham representing the applicant addressed the Panel stating that the scheme had been worked on and refined over a long period of time. He commented that he felt that this was a sustainable location and that the developer was committed to deliver the development later in the year.

In response to Members comments and questions the following was discussed:

• The amount of consultation that had taken place with local residents and the importance of continuing to consult and engage with local residents;
• The number of parking spaces in the area around the development; and
• The reasons why no wind study had been commissioned to date and a request that a condition be inserted to have a wind impact study carried out.

The Transport Development Services Manager advised Members on the available parking provision in the vicinity of the area.

The Head of Development Management recommended the report be deferred and delegated with two additional conditions. Those being; improvement works related to the tow path surface of the canal; and the requirement for a wind impact study to be carried out.

RESOLVED – To approve the application in principle and defer and delegate the final decision to the Chief Planning Officer subject to the conditions and finalising the Section 106 agreement with the obligations outlined in the report. Additional conditions agreed during discussion on the item included:

• Improvement works related to the tow path surface of the canal; and
• that the requirement to undertake a wind impact study by the developer.