Agenda item

To note the report of the Chief Planning Officer on a position statement for the demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of site to include A1 discount foodstore, three units for A1 non-food retails or A5 uses, one A3 unit and erection of 10 commercial units falling within use classes B1, B2 and B8 at Buslingthope Mills, Education Road, Leeds, LS7 2AP.

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Planning Officer provided a position statement and requested that Members noted the demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of the site at Buslingthorpe Mills, Education Road, LS7 2AP.

The Panel were advised of a couple of typos within the submitted report as follows at:

·  Para 2.1 should read 4 retail units not 5

·  Para 2.7 and 10.22 should read a maximum gradient of 1:11.7 rather than 1:10

·  Para 7.8 needed updating to say that a suitable flood risk assessment had been submitted and was considered acceptable for the proposed development

Members were informed that the redevelopment of the site would include A1 discount foodstore, three units for non-food retail or A5 uses, one A3 unit and the erection of 10 commercial units falling within Classes B2 and B8.

Members had visited the site earlier in the day and maps and photographs were shown at the meeting.

Members were advised that servicing for the units would be off Education Road with adequate parking for a couple of HGV’s. Highways had requested that the B1 units be recessed to allow parked vehicles to leave in a forward gear.

The retail development would sit on a steel structure to compensate for the difference in ground levels. The design approach had been guided by two aspects, the retail part, seeks to provide tribute to the mill type industry that originally occupied the site and the design of the proposed industrial buildings which sit at the lowest part of the site. The retail units would be of mainly red brick with large window frontage. The service units would be designed with a traditional ‘saw tooth’ roof scape as a result of comments from Historic England to reflect industrial England and would also address security concerns.

Members noted that the follow:

·  The development had taken into account the comments of Historic England in the design to reflect the character of industrial England

·  The development was fully compliant with LCC policy in relation to flood risk management

·  This was the redevelopment of a brownfield site

·  Employment at the site would be taken from the local area

·  The site had good links for roads, buses and footpaths would be provided to link the surrounding area and the new residential development at Hilltop, Buslingthorpe Lane.

The agent for the developer Scarborough Group International was at the meeting and addressed Members questions as follows:

·  The steel structure would be of a set standard and robust enough to last. The structure would be covered but allow the free flow of water to alleviate the risk of flooding

·  The car park would be slightly higher to alleviate the risk of flooding

Members asked that the developers take into consideration the following suggestions:

·  The need for pedestrian access

·  The use of photovoltaic panels

·  Traffic queuing at the signalised junction of Buslingthorpe Lane and Scott Hall Road.

·  Pedestrian crossings

·  For the use of slate or similar not steel on the retail units

·  Parent and child parking to be identified on drawings which returns to Panel

·  Details of external lighting to be provided when returns to Panel

RESOLVED – That Members noted the report and provided the following answers and comments in relation to questions set out at point 11.0 of the submitted report:

1.  Members agreed with the principles of the mix of development shown on the submitted drawings

2.  Members had provided comments in respect of the proposed layout and design of the buildings and had been minuted.

3.  Members requested that there be limited signage on the roadside and suggested that the signage be sensible and proportionate and not illuminated.

4.  Members were of the opinion that access points were acceptable and sensible.

5.  Members were of the view that more details and information would be needed when the scheme comes back to Panel on the acceptability of the proposed A5 use and its effect on the level of car parking.

6.  Members agreed that the scheme for both the retail and the industrial part of the scheme should provide Electric Vehicle Charging Points and that these should be indicated on the submitted drawings prior to final determination of the application