Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of a pre application proposal in respect of reserve matters details for a residential development of 271 dwellings on the northern development plots at Thorpe Park, Leeds 15, on land south of the railway line.

(Report attached)

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

pre application proposal in respect of reserve matters details for a residential development of 271 dwellings on the northern development plots at Thorpe Park, Leeds 15, on land south of the railway line.

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 pre-application enquiry relates to the northern half of the employment allocation at Thorpe Park that totalled approximately 65 hectares.

·  The site is located to the south of the Leeds -York railway line, and Manston Lane, west of the M1 (junction 46), north of the A63 Selby Road and the existing Thorpe Park buildings. Austhorpe Lane is to the west.

·  The site covers Zone B of the Thorpe Park masterplan but excludes what it termed ‘Central Park’, which is an important landscaping and open space feature running east to west across the site and which contains the SUDS attenuation/balancing ponds.

·  The proposal is for 271 dwellings, traditional detached, semi-detached , terraces and apartments 2-3 story’s in height

·  An existing Section 106 Agreement covers: affordable housing, education, greenspace, transport, employment policy requirements and expansion land for the link road

·  Extensive greenspace provision in the form of central park and green park as part of the wider development

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

·  Members made reference to the outline Design Code Addendum for the site, earlier Member consultation on the proposals, and the expectation for a contemporary design of house types

·  The design of the proposed house types was not inspiring

·  This was a unique location, and traditional house types was unacceptable in this context,  and  “incredibly disappointing”, members wish to see a contemporary, highly sustainable design to complement the design features of the wider Thorpe Park development

·  Members queried if there were any ongoing discussions about transport links

·  The easternmost green finger was weak and  needed to be enhanced to connect into the site and the adjacent park in line with the approved masterplan

·  There were concerns about the small size and northern orientation of the gardens to the railway line

In responding to the issue of transport links officers clarified that there was a £300,000 contribution by the development under the S106 Agreement to enable a 30 minute frequency bus service, and the applicant’s representative said that the delivery of the link road would bring forward accessibility benefits.

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

·  Members expressed the view that the house types be of a modern/contemporary design to complement the design features of the wider Thorpe Park development

·  Subject to addressing the aural amenity concerns affecting the gardens to the railway line, to the north, there were no adverse comments / concerns in respect of this aspect of the layout of the development

·  The development should have active frontages at ground floor and the development should follow the approved masterplan facing central park in this regard

·  Members were “relaxed” at the scale (height) and amount of development (number of dwellings) however, highway capacity was an important consideration and would be a determining factor for any amount in excess of the 300 figure approved as conditioned at outline stage

·  It was noted that little additional detail was provided of landscaping and that green infrastructure and greenspace provision required improved “green finger” connectivity between the different phases and also to Central Park, in respect of the easternmost ‘green finger’

In summing up the Chair said having heard the views of the Panel, it was clear that traditional house types were not acceptable on this site, Members were seeking a modern/ contemporary and sustainable design  that would fit in the context of Thorpe Park..

RESOLVED –

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

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