Decision details

Further to the Executive Board meetings of November 2014 and July 2015, to approve how the Council proposes to support activity to continue the regeneration of Holbeck Urban Village.

Further to Minute No. 19, 15^th July 2015, the Director of City Development submitted a report which sought the Council’s support for a major inward investment opportunity for the city. Specifically, this was to support Burberry’s initial proposals to relocate their UK manufacturing operations to Leeds South Bank. In addition, the report also set out the policy principles by which the Council would work with Burberry in order to secure the restoration and long term sustainable use of Temple Works as part of further plans for future phases of development.

Prior to the meeting, Board Members had been provided with correspondence which had been received from interested parties regarding the submitted report. In considering this, Members were notified of a specific proposal within the correspondence which related to the suggested expansion of the Holbeck Urban Village Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). 

The Board welcomed the investment into the South Bank by Burberry and highlighted the significance of the company’s proposals, both in economic terms and with regard to the regeneration opportunities it presented.

With regard to consultation, it was highlighted that all relevant parties would be consulted as part of the proposed development of a Planning Guidance document in respect of the Temple Works area.

Responding to specific enquiries, assurances were provided that appropriate housing provision in the South Bank area still remained a priority, whilst the Board was also informed of the actions being taken to work with Burberry and Leeds City Region (LCR) partners in order to support those businesses and organisations within the LCR affected by the proposals. 

In conclusion, it was requested that the Board continue to be updated on the development of the matters arising within the submitted report.

Following consideration of Appendix 1 to the submitted report, designated as exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (3), which was considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, it was

RESOLVED – That the following be agreed:-

(a)  The Council’s support for Burberry’s proposals to relocate a significant part of its UK manufacturing operations to Leeds South Bank, as detailed within the submitted report;

(b)  The Council’s support for Burberry’s initial proposals to restore Temple Works and land neighbouring Temple Works as part of future phases of development;

(c)  The policy principles, as set out in section 5 of the submitted report, and the commercial terms, as detailed within exempt appendix 1, as a basis by which the Council will seek to help to secure the delivery of this inward investment opportunity, and produce legal documents for agreement with Burberry;

(d)  That the Director of City Development, in accordance with resolutions a), b) and c) above:

a.  produces and negotiates legal agreements with Burberry for the disposal of Council assets at Bath Road, Sweet Street and Leodis Court, and where necessary develops a vacant possession strategy for these assets.

b.  produces and negotiates a grant agreement with Burberry setting out the terms by which the Council will provide a restoration grant to help to restore Temple Works.

c.  produces and negotiates a grant agreement to a cap of £750,000 for the provision of  new public open space at the front of Temple Works and allocates £560,000 of moneys held in the Holbeck Urban Village Public Realm fund for this provision.

d.  commences close working with city region partners on how to mitigate any potential adverse implications, and develops proposals to maximise the economic and employment benefits across the city region.

e.  submits a report to Executive Board by June 2016 providing an update on progress and seeking approval to enter into legal agreements once negotiated and finalised, and, if required, approval to make a Compulsory Purchase Order  to ensure that the land assembly required to deliver Burberry’s scheme can be fulfilled.

(e)  That the Chief Planning Officer prepares a bespoke and updated Planning Guidance document for Temple Works and surrounding sites to guide the development proposals in this area and for this to be submitted to Executive Board by March 2016 as a basis for public consultation. 

(f)  That the Council’s land at Bath Road, Leodis Court and Sweet Street be appropriated for the purposes of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as to facilitate Burberry’s proposals and the proper planning of the area.

Consultation with Executive Members

Leader of the Council

Executive Member for Regeneration, Transport and Planning