Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of a pre-application presentation for the erection of 100 apartments in two buildings between 5 and 7 storeys with ground floor car parking located between Melbourne Street and Lower Brunswick Street, Leeds.

(Report attached)

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which sets out details of a pre-application presentation for the erection of 100 apartments in two buildings between 5 and 7 storeys with ground floor car parking located between Melbourne St and Lower Brunswick St, Leeds.

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

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

·  The original proposal was for the demolition of the existing buildings on the site and the erection of a single building split into three adjoining blocks of apartments, stepping down the site from 9 storeys fronting Brunswick Row to the west, to 5 storeys at the Bridge Street end to the east. Following Members comments the new proposal has been reduced in scale to between 6 and 7 storeys and has now been split in to 2 separate buildings with the break-point midway along the elevation, forming two even sized buildings. As previously the main body of the buildings are proposed to be of brick, glass and metal cladding. However, the lower two floors were now to have a colonnade treatment and the elevations treated in a light, potentially masonry, material interspersed by glazing panels and decorative metal screens to allow natural ventilation to parking and refuse storage areas. The top of the building is to be of both transparent and look-a-like glass, contained within grey terracotta framing.

·  The scheme contains 100 apartments comprising:

·  1 x studio

·  58 x 1 bed apartments

·  38 x 2 bed apartments

·  3 x 3 bed apartments

  The apartments range in size: studio 33 sqm; 1 bed 37-52 sqm; 2 bed   61-68 sqm; 3 bed 74 sqm. It is intended that the scheme would be   made available for occupation under the Private Rented Sector (PRS)   model.

·  Vehicular access is proposed from the eastern end of Lower Brunswick Street with car parking provided in an under-croft parking area providing three disabled parking spaces. Cycle parking spaces are provided in two stores, one in each building. Given the narrowness of the streets in this area, the route between the two buildings is to be used for servicing both blocks and will be a managed space, the concierge having an office overlooking this area.

·  The main resident accesses are provided from two entrances on either side of the central route between the buildings. Two end entrances are also included and are set within small landscaped garden areas.

Members raised the following questions:

·  Did the studio apartment meet the requirements of the space standards

·  Was the parking provision adequate for the development

·  Was there any residential amenity proposed for the area

·  Was there any affordable housing provision

·  There appeared to be a lack of family apartments

·  Car parking was an issue, could a condition be included on any grant of planning consent stating there would be no residential parking schemes. 

In responding to the issues raised, the applicant’s representatives said:

·  It was reported that the studio apartment size was marginally below the required space standards

·  Members were informed that a Highways Consultant had been employed to provide a detailed transport assessment which would be provided at a later date.

·  It was confirmed that local shops and a convenience store was proposed for the area, premises for a Doctors Surgery/ Medical Practice was available if required.

·  The applicants were supportive to the principle of affordable housing and would be “flexible” in its delivery

·  It was suggested that primarily this development was targeted at younger people, family accommodation was available in other areas.

·  Highway Officer’s suggested that a residential parking scheme would not be supported, but limited car parking could be supported if it could be linked to any contributions to enhance Traffic Regulations Orders (TRO) for the area

In offering comments Members raised the following issues:

·  It was the view of Members that this was an impressive design and set a new quality standard for the surrounding area

·  Members welcomed the improved scale, massing and provision of roof top gardens

·  Further details were required about parking provision for the area

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

·  Members were supportive of the emerging scale and design of the development

·  Members expressed the view that the levels of amenity within the flats was acceptable

·  Members were of the opinion that the proposal respects the amenity of the occupiers of surrounding properties

·  Members requested further information as to the approach to car parking provision in this highly sustainable city centre location

The Chair thanked the developers for their attendance and presentation.

RESOLVED –

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

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