Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of an application for a multi-level development comprising 204 dwellings and two commercial units, car parking, landscaping and public realm at Clarence Road, Hunslet, Leeds LS10 1ND

(Report attached)

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which set out details of an application for a multi-level development comprising 204 dwellings and two commercial units, car parking, landscaping and public realm at Clarence Road Hunslet, Leeds, LS10 1ND.

Site photographs and plans were displayed and referred to throughout the discussion of the application.

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

·  Principle of use

·  Urban design

·  Greenspace and Public realm

·  Residential quality and sustainability

·  Highways and transportation

·  Flood risk

·  Wind

·  Jobs and skills training

·  Section 106 obligations and CIL

The Chief Planning Officer and the applicant’s representatives addressed the Panel, speaking in detail about the proposal and highlighted the following:

·  The proposal was for 204 dwellings, arranged in 12 blocks made up of a mixture of flats and houses

·  Built to high sustainability passivhaus principles (Climate innovation system)

·  Dwelling types, some stacked town houses

·  Elevation treatments

·  Proposals for public open space

·  Off- site improvement works

·  Wind assessment (The inclusion of a condition requiring a quantitative wind impact assessment prior to development taking place)

·  Flood Assessment

·  New access to river and towpath

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

·  Noted that passivhaus principles had significant insulations properties

·  The access road was not adopted but should be properly maintained

·  Noted the development was to be carried out in accordance with the approved Flood Risk Assessment

·  Use of quality materials, the use of timber mainly on lower levels for ease of maintenance was welcomed

·  A suggestion that the design of the dormers may require more finesse

·  The industrial aspect of the development was good design feature

·  Members welcome the opportunity for local employment

·  A suggestion that the planting scheme should be a simple design for ease of maintenance.

·  Noted the likely completion period of 3 years

In drawing the discussion to a conclusion the Chair said Members appeared to be generally impressed with the proposal. He said Members welcomed the introduction of passivhauses to the city, there were some impressive design features with the use of quality materials.

RESOLVED – That the application be deferred and delegated to the Chief Planning Officer for approval subject to the conditions specified in appendix 1 of the submitted report with the inclusion of an additional condition requiring a quantitative wind impact assessment prior to development taking place (and any others which he might consider appropriate) and the completion of a Section 106 Agreement to include the following obligations:

·  5% on-site affordable housing in accordance with policy for the area (10 units of a pro-rata mix, split 60:40 lower decile; lower quartile income)

·  On-site public realm accessibility

·  Travel Plan measures (Sustainable travel fund – car club trial provision) £16,500

·  Travel Plan monitoring fee £3010

·  Co-operation with local jobs and skills initiatives

·  Management fee £750

·  Future maintenance of the Internal Access Road

In the event of the Section 106 Agreement not being completed within 1 month of the resolution to grant planning permission, the final determination of the application be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer