Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of a pre-application proposal for residential development comprising approximately 567 apartments, the repair and refurbishment of the grade II listed viaduct to create a new elevated public park and a mix of commercial units within the viaduct arches on Land at Monkbridge, Whitehall Road, Leeds, LS12 1BE

(Report attached)

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which set out details of a pre-application proposal for residential development comprising approximately 567 apartments, the repair and refurbishment of the Grade II Listed Viaduct to create a new elevated public park and a mix of commercial units within the viaduct arches on land to the former Doncaster Monkbridge site, Whitehall Road, Leeds, LS12 1BE.

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

The applicant’s representative addressed the Panel, speaking in detail about the proposal and highlighted the following:

·  The proposed development was for approximately 567 apartments in five buildings (262 one bedroom, 276 two bedroom and 29 three bedroom)

·  The buildings would range from 12 to 21 storey’s in height

·  The listed viaduct would be repaired and enhanced to provide a new elevated landscaped public park that would connect the Wellington Place development to the east, with a physical mechanism for achieving the link to still be agreed

·  There would be 5,500sqm of public open space within the site consisting of a majority of the top of the viaduct with a further 3,700sqm of private communal space for the residents of the private sector apartments

·  The arches to the viaduct would be repaired and refurbished to provide new commercial space including retail units, cafes, bars and restaurants with the triangular area between the 2 viaducts limbs proposed to provide a glazed covered space and a physical connection between the viaduct level and the lower general site level.

·  Car parking would be provided beneath each of the buildings with a total number of spaces proposed being 119

·  Servicing would take place from a single loop road and 2 spurs off this, which would pass beneath the buildings and utilizing 2 of the arches for access points.

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

·  It was noted that the intention was to begin work on-site from July 2018 with a 3 year completion period

·  Public access to the site would be gained following completion of Phase 1 stage

·  Community safety through design was an important issue (passive supervision)

·  Further consideration of the housing mix was required, was there enough family sized 3-bed units

·  Important to have good design and the use of quality materials

·  Development located on the edge of the city centre, how would residents get to work/ school, further information required on the level of car parking provision

·  Quality landscaping scheme required

·  Noted that maintenance of the public realm would be undertaken by the developers

·  The need to mitigate for the potential impact on the biodiversity and ecology of the site

In drawing the discussion to a conclusion Members provided the following feedback

·  Members were of the view that the heights and footprint of the building generally achieved all of the objectives, as set out in the submitted report, including the relationship to the existing units at City Island

·  Members were supportive of the approach to connect to the footbridge over the Inner Ring Road

·  Members were supportive of the approach to housing mix, subject to clear justification for the number of family sized apartments being created

·  Members required more information as to how residents would get to work/ school, further information was required on the level of car parking provision

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the details contained in the pre-application presentation

(ii)  That the developers be thanked for their attendance and presentation