Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against refusal.

There was no exempt information.

There were no formal late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

Councillor Campbell, Gruen, McKenna and Walshaw informed the Panel that with regard to Agenda Item 7, Members were part of the respective Plans Panel considering the Leeds Bradford Airport, and they would be considering the item with an open mind.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A Carter and R Finnigan.

To agree the minutes of the meetings held Tuesday 3^rd November 2020, and Friday 11^th December 2020, as a correct record.

RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meetings held on:

a)  Tuesday 3 November 2020, be approved as an accurate record.

b)  Friday 11 December 2020, be approved as an accurate record subject to the following amendments to minute no. 40 to read “whilst the SPD relates to new applications for HMOs only…” and “…with effect from 6 April 2021 that all PD schemes to nationally accord with the Nationally Described Space Standards which are equivalent to Policy H9”.

Matters Arising

Minute no 39 – Site Allocations Plan – Consultation on Remittal of 37 Policies to the Secretary of State. The Head of Strategic Planning informed the Panel that the proposed Main Modifications are currently undergoing consultation for 6 weeks.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer provides the latest update on the LPU and provides Panel members with the emerging position on possible future policy approaches within the LPU on topics that have so far not been considered. Topics include flood risk, sustainable infrastructure (including HS2, digital connectivity, mass transit and Leeds Bradford Airport) and strategic place-making.  Information is set out within the main body of the report including relevant policy background, possible future policy approaches and questions to be raised at consultation.

It is then proposed to bring together the draft consultation material together, in time for the March meeting of Development Plan Panel.

Further to the minutes of the meeting held 3^rd November 2020, the report of the Chief Planning Officer updated Members on the emerging position on the scope of a Local Plan Update, which will set out which policy areas should be the focus of a policy update, around an overall broad objective of responding to the Climate Emergency.  The meeting discussed policy approaches within the LPU on topics that have so far not been considered including flood risk, sustainable infrastructure (including HS2, digital connectivity, mass transit and Leeds Bradford Airport) and strategic place-making.  It was noted that these are not draft polices at this stage and public views are being sought on whether these are the right policy topics to focus on.

The report contains information that will be included in public consultation on the scope of the Local Plan Update.  This includes relevant policy background, possible future policy approaches and questions to be raised at consultation. The report seeks to bring together the draft consultation material in time for the Development Plan Panel to be held in March 2021, before seeking approval for consultation at Executive Board on the 17^th March 2021. Consultation is anticipated to commence after the Local Government Elections in May.

Appended to the submitted report lists potential consultation questions.

The Group Manager (Policy and Plans) introduced the report and provided a PowerPoint presentation, with an overview of:

·  Policy topics covered at the Development Plan Panel meeting in November 2020;

·  An example of a ‘Plan on a Page’ as a result of streamlining information for members of the public to more easily engage with;

·  Benefits of the Policy Options and proposed consultation questions in relation to the topic areas were highlighted as follows:

Flood Risk

Avoiding development in flood risk areas – Strategic Flood Risk Assessments (SFRA) are being updated to be completed by summer 2021

Functional Floodplain – the updated SFRA has a critical role in defining the Functional Floodplain and may impact development in those areas

Surface Water Flooding and Sustainable Drainage – the benefits of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) in new development and considerations around strengthening existing policy in relation to infiltration rates, identifying source locations for flooding, reducing speed of run-off through tree planting and reviewing minimum standards

Permitted Development Rights (especially for Front Gardens) – considerations around how to keep soft landscaping in front gardens and avoid impermeable paving over of front gardens through options including removing Permitted Development rights in new development

Strategic Place-Making

20 minute neighbourhoods – a new vision that aligns with existing Council priorities, that maximises opportunities for active travel by focusing on hubs and service centres. The consultation will seek to understand stakeholders’ views, on how it can be applied to planning policy in Leeds

Sustainable Infrastructure

High Speed 2 and Leeds Station – the proposed policy could help guide growth in Leeds station, identify development opportunities associated with HS2, maximise opportunities for green, key pedestrian and cycle infrastructure

Mass Transit – whilst  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer considers a current Government consultation in relation to 3 areas of the planning process. The consultation focuses on three main areas;

•  Supporting housing delivery through a new national permitted development right for the change of use from the Commercial, Business and Service use class to residential.

•  Supporting public service infrastructure through the planning system.

•  Consolidation and simplification of existing permitted development rights

For each of these 3 areas a number of questions are set out for consultation response. This report provides a summary of each of the 3 areas, with an overall response. Appendix 1 lists consultation questions and detailed responses. 

The report of the Chief Planning Officer informed Members of a current Government consultation on proposed measures to support housing delivery, economic recovery and public service infrastructure. For each of the areas, a number of questions have been set out for consultation response. The consultation focused on three main areas and all relate to permitted development rights:

Ø  Supporting housing delivery through a new national permitted development right for the change of use from the Commercial, Business and Service use class to residential.

Ø  Supporting public service infrastructure through the planning system.

Ø  Consolidation and simplification of existing permitted development rights.

Appended to the report included a draft response from the Local Planning Authority.

The Principal Planner (Policy and Plans) introduced the report and informed the Panel that the consultation is open until 28 January 2021. Members heard the changes relate to the high street and widening of permitted development rights to allow greater flexibility to change uses within town centres, consolidates changes to existing wide ranging permitted development rights and also around Covid-19 and the provision of public infrastructure.

An overview in terms of each of the areas was provided, and the following information had been highlighted:

New ‘E’ use Class

·  This was introduced as of 1 September 2020 and includes retail, restaurant office, financial/professional services, indoor sports, medical and nursery uses;

·  Questions set out in the consultation relate to conditions applying to widening of permitted development rights to residential use, including appropriate size restrictions, where the right should apply and local consideration through prior approval;

·  Section 106 agreements and affordable housing, concerns remain where a permitted development application would not consider these;

·  The impact on current permitted development rights in terms of the uptake in retail – there had only been 22 schemes since 2013, and for the loss of office to residential – 97 applications, 3,877 units since 2013.

Supporting public service infrastructure

·  Focuses on proposed planning reforms to speed up the delivery of schools, colleges, hospitals and other NHS buildings, both for existing and new sites;

·  Seeks to ensure the expansion of existing sites are streamlined and creates a faster process for applications for planning permission;

·  Proposes to amend existing permitted development right to allow schools, colleges, universities and hospitals to expand their facilities by 25% or 250 sqm of their footprint of the current buildings on site;

·  21 day statutory public consultation period proposed to be reduced to 14 days – the Council are not supportive of this proposal.

Consolidation and simplification of existing permitted development rights

·  Proposed simplification and rationalisation of all permitted development rights to provide clarify and consistency with the new ‘E’ class, ;

·  The consultation response states that widening of other existing permitted development rights should be subject to further consultation.

Members discussed a number of matters including:

·  Emphasis of the concerns reflected in the consultation response in relation to the quality, design and living standards of housing schemes and the eligibility of affordable housing;

·  Emphasising the need that nearby greenspace  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 2^nd March 2021, at 1:30 pm.

RESOLVED- To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 2^nd March 2021, at 1.30 pm.

(The meeting concluded at 3:15 pm)