Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of City Development which seeks approval for the Council’s support to a major inward investment opportunity for the city. Specifically this is to support Burberry’s initial proposals to relocate their UK manufacturing operations to Leeds South Bank. The report also sets out the policy principles by which the Council would work with Burberry to secure the restoration and long term sustainable use of Temple Works as part of further plans for future phases of development.

(Appendix 1 to this report is designated as exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (3))

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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81