Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of a pre application proposal for mixed use multilevel development in a number of blocks ranging from 8-14 storey comprising offices, residential, hotels, leisure/ancillary use at Central Park, New Lane, Leeds.

(Report attached)

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which set out details of a

Pre-Application presentation for a proposed mixed use multi-level development in a number of blocks ranging from 8-14 storey’s comprising offices, residential, hotels, leisure/ ancillary use at Central Park, New Lane, Leeds.

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 application site is located to the south of Great Wilson Street, to the east and north of Victoria Road and to the west of Meadow Lane in Leeds City Centre

·  Safeguarding Direction in place - HS2 Ltd would need to be consulted if application was to proceed

·  The development will consist of 8 buildings ranging in height from 8-14 storey’s based around a Central Park - 4 blocks of B1 office development, 300 bed two star hotel and a 300 bed four star hotel, 200 residential apartments and retail/food/drink uses at ground floor level

·  Vehicular access and egress is proposed using a one-way system with vehicles entering the site from the New Lane/Victoria Road junction and exiting through the proposed car park to the New Lane/ Meadow Lane junction. Servicing /drop off would use the one-way system and follow a dedicated controlled access service route around the perimeter of the public square at ground level

·  Comprehensive traffic impact assessment to be undertaken

·  515 basement car parking spaces are proposed

·  Connectivity, road network and public realm

·  Landscaping strategy to be developed

·  Wind assessment to be undertaken

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

·  Members were of the view that the proposal for mixed use was acceptable

·  Consider relocating the residential element to Great Wilson Street, away from the noisier road frontages

·  Potentially high noise levels on Meadow Lane

·  Provision of a green buffer (grass and trees)

·  Contribution to City Park

·  A wind study to be undertaken to ensure wind speeds were acceptable at street level

·  On the operation of the Safeguarding Direction, this means that, except where a type of application for planning permission is exempted, LPAs must consult HS2 Ltd on any application for planning permission, or undecided applications for planning permission, which fall within the safeguarded areas of HS2, HS2 Ltd must then respond to these consultations within 21 days, or by an agreed date. If HS2 Ltd objects to a planning application and the LPA is minded to approve it, they must first notify the Secretary of State for Transport. The Secretary of State then has 21 days to either notify the LPA that he has no objections to permission being granted, or issues a direction restricting the granting of planning permission for that application

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

·  Members were supportive of the principle of the proposed development 

·  Members were supportive of the indicative scale and layout of the  emerging development, however, further consideration of the positioning of the residential units was required, further articulation of the blocks, a suggestion that more height could be considered in return for the provision of more green space, particularly to the road frontages

·  Access and egress needs to change to in and out only from Victoria Road and a comprehensive traffic management plan be put in place

RESOLVED –

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

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