Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of a  Pre-Application Presentation for Proposed 8 storey Residential Development with first floor offices and ground floor Cafe/Bar at St. Peters Buildings, York Street, Leeds.

(Report attached)

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

Pre-application proposal for the proposed 8 storey residential development with first floor offices and ground floor Café/ Bar at St.Peters Buildings, York Street, Leeds 1.

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

The City Centre Team Leader together with the applicant’s representatives addressed the Panel, speaking in detail about the proposal and highlighted the following:

·  The site is currently a vacant cleared brownfield site on the north side of York Street, in the designated City Centre, close to the City bus station and the Quarry Hill cultural quarter.

·  Vehicular access would be from St Peters Square at the rear.

·  The vacant plot forms part of a larger early 20th Century block known as St Peters Buildings, which is generally 4 large-scale ‘industrial’ storeys in red-brick.

·  The proposal is for an 8 storey residential block with a ground floor food and drink use.

·  The building would be clad in red-brick to the York Street frontage, with standing seam zinc-type cladding and corten steel-type cladding to the upper levels, with glazing and look-a-like panels.

·  The front doors to the flats would be arranged around a glazed atrium, allowing daylight into the flats from within the building, as well as outlook to the north and south.

·  There would also be a rooftop amenity space for residents.

·  The proposal is for 56 dwellings; 32 1 bed (41-55sqm),

21 2 bed (61-70sqm) and 3, 3 bed (78sqm)

·  At ground floor there would be a 629sqm café/bar unit facing onto York Street, and there would be a 1st floor office unit facing into the courtyard.

·  There would be 4 undercroft car parking spaces accessed from

St. Peters Square, with bin storage and 56 secure cycle storage also at ground floor. The basement would be used for storage.

·  A minimum of 10% energy generation would be developed through on site low carbon energy sources. The scheme would also deliver a reduction of at least 20% on building regulations carbon emissions.

In response to Members questions, the following were raised:

·  There were a number of 3 bedroomed apartments proposed which suggested family accommodation, but there was no school provision in the area.

·  Was a flood risk assessment required

·  Had discussions taken place with neighbours to include the redundant end staircores

In responding to the issues raised, the City Centre Team Leader/ applicant’s representatives said:

·  In terms of the 3 bedroom accommodation, it was suggested that there was a market move for professional sharing in this area. There was a trend for family accommodation to be located in the South Bank where school provision could be accessed easier.

·  Clarity was currently being sought from the City Council as to whether a flood risk assessment was required.

·  The redundant staircores would be incorporated into the new building

In offering comments Members raised the following issues:

·  Bringing a brown field site back into use was inspiring and welcomed

·  Good positive scheme, well thought through, welcome the inclusion of the atrium

·  The retaining of the two shards of the previous building was a welcome feature

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

·  Members were supportive of the principle of the proposed upper floor for residential use and ground floor for commercial use

·  Members were supportive of the proposed mix of residential accommodation and welcome the inclusion of 3 bedroomed accommodation within the City Centre

·  Members were supportive of the proposed indicative layout, height and emerging design

·  Members were supportive of the approach to car parking and accessibility and requested that consideration be given to disabled parking

·  Members welcomed the provision of 5% affordable housing on site in line with adopted policy

In summing up the Chair said Members were supportive of the proposal and welcomed the submission of a formal application

RESOLVED –

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

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