Agenda and minutes

  The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and paid tribute to David Marsh, the Municipal Correspondent at the Yorkshire Evening Post who was leaving the paper after 25 years.  Councillor Taggart thanked him for his service to the people of Leeds and the Council and stated that he would be greatly missed

  The Chair stated that in view of the workload of City Plans Panel, it would be likely that some additional meetings would be needed together with a workshop in the early part of the year on the NGT scheme and that dates would be circulated as soon as possible

  There were no late items

  There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.  However, in respect of applications 10/04597/OT – Wakefield Road Gildersome and 12/02470/OT – land between Gelderd Road/Asquith Avenue and Nepshaw Lane North, Councillor Leadley declared other interests through being the Chair of Morley Town Council Planning Committee which had commented on the proposals.  As these applications were not being determined at this meeting, Councillor Leadley stated that he intended to take part in the discussions (minutes 48 and 49 refer)

  Councillor Nash stated that in respect of application

12/04200/FU Kirkstall District Centre, she would not be declaring a disclosable pecuniary interest through being in receipt of a small income from the Co-op as although there was a Co-op store in the area, it was 1.5 miles from the subject site (minute 47 refers)

  Apologies for absence were received from Councillor R Procter who was substituted for by Councillor J Procter

To approve the minutes of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 22^nd November 2012

(minutes attached)

  RESOLVED -  That the minutes of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 22^nd November 2012 be approved

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on the current position in respect of an application for demolition of existing buildings and erection of a 6 storey library with ancillary landscaping and Conservation Area application to demolish 2 office buildings

(report attached)

  Further to minute 11 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 27^th September where Panel received a pre-application presentation for a proposed library at Leeds University, Members considered a position statement on the scheme

Plans, photographs, graphics, story boards and sample materials were displayed at the meeting

  Officers presented the report and stated that the proposed student library would enable Leeds University to compete effectively to attract student numbers

  Members were informed that the site was a sensitive one and was surrounded by heritage assets, some being Grade II Listed Buildings

  One particular building which lay within the site was the former bank building which was now being used as a security office.   Whilst the façade of the building was of interest, it was not Listed and that consideration had been given to its retention on site, however, due to the level changes of the building it was not felt this could be retained.  For information, Members were informed that English Heritage supported the demolition of the former bank building as the replacement scheme was of higher quality

  In terms of landscaping, there would be some loss of trees but replacement planting and new public realm would be provided

  In addition to the library use, an ancillary café use would be included, with the ground floor being fully accessible to the public, schools, colleges and other universities.  The upper levels would be for use by Leeds University only and would comprise study and book stacking areas, with feature windows providing views across the city and to the adjacent church

  Roof top plant would be discrete and not impact on the overall visual effect of the building

  The building would provide two entrances; the main entrance being off Woodhouse Lane, with a secondary entrance off Hillary Place

  In response to Members’ previous comments, the elevation to Hillary Place had been revised to reduce its dominance to the street.  The building had been stepped back and an open podium level had been provided.  Whilst the building required a wide footprint, it was not possible to increase its height, so architectural features had been used, e.g. slot windows, to increase the appearance of height.  The building frontage now aligned with the smaller building on the adjacent site and benefitted from a simplified and refined palette of materials, comprising mainly Portland Stone and glass.  The inclusion of a glass box ‘lantern’ at the top of the building provided vertical emphasis and created a presence on the skyline

  Officers reported an objection received from Leeds Civic Trust but felt that this related to the previous version of the scheme and not the one being presented to Panel

  Members commented on the following matters:

• the revisions which had been made to the scheme, which were an improvement but whether the building fitted in with the surrounding gothic buildings
• that the loss of a bank building was acceptable
• an acceptance that the development could not be built in the gothic style
• the lack of any  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on the current position in respect of an application for demolition of existing buildings and erection of A1 foodstore, five retail units (A1, A2, A3, A4 or A5), a new club building for the Leeds Postal Sports Association Club, a community centre, improved public realm and associated car parking, servicing, landscaping and access improvements

(report attached)

Councillor M Hamilton joined the meeting at this point

Plans, photographs and graphics were displayed at the meeting.  A Members site visit had taken place earlier in the day

Officers presented the report which set out the current position for a major retail led development in Kirkstall.  Members were informed that the proposals had been presented to Plans Panel West in early September, which had generally supported the scheme

The previous scheme was shown to Panel for comparative purposes

The level changes across the site were highlighted as was the previous proposals to site the retail units on Kirkstall Hill

Members were informed that the current scheme brought the development to street level on the Commercial Road side.  The first level would comprise the retail units and a tower feature which would incorporate the lift and stairs which would give access to all levels.  The next level would include the Post Office Sports Club and the servicing arrangements for the development from a new road off Commercial Road; the next level would include the new supermarket, which could be accessed at ground level on Kirkstall Lane.  The final level would see the location of the car park

The proposed materials would be red brick, stone cladding and some bronze detailing

As a lower building was now being proposed, it would have less visual impact than previous proposals for the site

Officers reported the receipt of an objection from a local resident which was outlined for Members’ information.  Receipt of 7 e-mails in support of the proposals were also reported

Members were informed that the proposals provided the opportunity to develop the site in a different way and to bring forward a scheme on a site which was challenging due to the level changes.  The scheme would now provide two active frontages; better servicing and the retail elements at a lower level.  Local jobs would also be created

At this point, the Chair referred to the comments in the report made by the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service, which was part of West Yorkshire Joint Services which he also chaired, but stated that he was not declaring in interest

Members discussed the proposals and commented on the following matters:

·  the effect of moving the bus stop which was located nearby on Kirkstall Lane.  The Panel’s highways representative stated that the bus stop would be moved to accommodate the junction changes, but would be retained

·  the need for more work to be done on the Beecroft Street elevation; that planting and design should be considered but that any signage on this corner would need to be carefully controlled.  Members were informed that discussions about the design of this elevation were continuing and that in respect of signage, this would require advertisement consent in its own right

·  that the design of the building should reach the highest environmental and sustainable standards

·  the amount of future development in this area and that this site should not be considered in isolation, particularly in terms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on the current position regarding an outline application to layout access road and erect light industry, general industry and warehouse development (use classes class B1C, B2 and B8), a 115 bed hotel and pub/restaurant with car parking

(report attached)

Plans and photographs were displayed at the meeting.  A

Members site visit had taken place earlier in the day

  Members considered the first of two reports of the Chief Planning Officer in respect of development proposals on sites in close proximity to each other, in Gildersome. 

  Officers presented the report which set out the current position on an outline application for an employment led scheme comprising industrial and warehouse uses together with a hotel and pub/restaurant on an undeveloped, sloping site of approximately 3.23 hectares to the south east of Junction 27, between Wakefield Road and the M621.  The site was surrounded by a number of existing industrial and offices uses, together with residential properties on Wakefield Road in close proximity

  Members were informed about the main issues relating to the proposals which included:

·  principle of development; that the site was mainly allocated for employment uses and that industrial use was acceptable in principle.  In terms of the hotel/pub uses, these were usually seen as town centre uses.  Paragraphs 10.3-10.8 of the submitted report set out the applicant’s reasons for wanting to pursue these uses in an out of town centre location

·  highways issues; that a new, signalised access junction was proposed to serve the site, with Highways Officers being satisfied on the provision of this.  A 3 metre cycle route was also to be provided together with a bus layby.  At the time the report was written, the application was subject to a Holding Direction by the Highways Agency relating to, amongst other matters, the scope and costs of works necessary at Junction 27, with Members being informed that the Holding Direction had been extended on13th December 2012 to 31^st January 2013

·  landscaping proposals; the existing mature vegetation would be retained where possible, although a number of trees would be removed, some because they were diseased and some to facilitate development.  Replacement planting would be provided, with the Council’s Landscape Officer being generally happy with the proposals

·  impact on residential amenity of the proposed 4 storey hotel use.  Issues of overdominance or overlooking from the hotel use had been considered but due to the sloping nature of the site, and the distance to the nearest residential properties, it was felt that residential amenity would be adequately protected

·  S106 agreement; that this was being negotiated and the need for Members’ views on whether the hotel was needed to deliver the employment uses on the site

Members were informed that further comments had been received from

residents and these would be detailed in a further report when the application was due for determination

Panel then discussed the impact of the proposed signalised junction on

a resident who lived opposite the site and parked a caravan in his driveway, and referred to discussions held with the resident when Members visited the site that morning.  Whilst it was possible for his vehicle and caravan to turn in his curtilage, it could be that his driveway would require widening to enable safe  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on the current position in respect of an outline application for proposed employment development for use classes B1(B) and B1(C) (research and development/light industrial uses), B2 (general industrial uses) and B8 (storage and distribution uses) with new accesses, associated infrastructure and landscaping

(report attached)

Plans and photographs were displayed at the meeting.  A

Members site visit had taken place earlier in the day

  Officers presented the report which provided the current position in respect of proposals for an employment development on a 28.3 hectare undeveloped, former opencast mine site in Gildersome

  Members were informed that there were a large number of issues to be resolved on this site and these included particularly complex highways issues.  As set out in the previous report, the application was subject to a Holding Direction by the Highways Agency which had been extended to January 31^st 2013

  The topography of the site was challenging as there were substantial changes in levels on the site.  In addition, a small residential development abutted into the site and a public right of way cut centrally across the site to a public footpath which runs down the western site boundary

  Two vehicular access points into the site were proposed; one at Gelderd Road and the other from Asquith Avenue, both of which caused Officers concerns – at Gelderd Road the signals at this location were over capacity and could not be improved and in terms of Asquith Avenue, the presence of HGVs on this road should not be encouraged; discussions were ongoing but as the development would be so large, it would need a number of access points and would give rise to local impacts.  There was also the point as to whether a highway linkage should be made across the beck, given the toporgraphy and ecological corridor

  Drainage was another issue on the site with local concerns being raised about flood risk.  Although £300,000 was proposed towards flood mitigation, Gildersome Parish Council’s concerns about flooding remained

  The quantum of development and the impact of this on long distance views was also a concern, particularly in view of one of the units potentially being as large as the White Rose Shopping Centre

  Panel discussed the report and commented on the following matters:

·  that an access on Asquith Avenue did not work and that an access from Nepshaw Lane South should be considered as two main routes were likely to be needed

·  that there were no bus services on the Gelderd Road frontage of the site and that the existing bus services in this area were being depleted

·  that the sum put forward for water mitigation measures was not index-linked and that third-party land ownership would be required to deliver them

·  that issues relating to highways, off site works and public transport had not been addressed and that much more work was needed on the proposals

·  the possibility of the water mitigation measures being tied into the nearby woodland to provide environmental benefits

·  that vehicular access to the site from Nepshaw Lane South should be considered and that Asquith A  venue was not suitable for vehicular access serving the development as it was too narrow, although two main routes into the site should be provided

·  concerns about the size of the proposed units  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

To consider a report and receive an updated pre-application presentation on alterations and amendments to the approved Eastgate and Harewood Quarter development scheme

This is a pre-application presentation and no formal decision on the development will be taken, however it is an opportunity for Panel Members to ask questions, raise issues, seek clarification and comment on the proposals at this stage. A ward member or a nominated community representative has a maximum of 15 minutes to present their comments

(report attached)

Further to minute 6 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 27^th September 2012, where Panel resolved to grant outline planning permission for amendments to the mix of uses for the Eastgate and Harewood Quarter development, Members considered a pre-application presentation for alterations and amendments to the approved scheme

Plans, photographs, graphics and precedent images were displayed at the meeting

Officers introduced the report and Members then received a presentation on the proposals on behalf of the developer

Members were informed that agreement had been reached with John Lewis for their anchor store and that work had been continuing with the Council to vary the proposals in order to bring the scheme forward in a phased way.  Along with Millgarth Police Station which had been acquired by the Council, the Victoria Quarter had recently been acquired by the developer.  Consideration was now being given to creating links from the Victoria Quarter to the Eastgate and Harewood Quarter development to form one scheme and this would necessitate some changes

Consideration was being given to whether a 21^st century covered space could be created, with the intention being to take as inspiration and reference, the quality of the Leeds’ historic arcades

In terms of car parking, John Lewis was keen to have a car park on the site and having considered the scheme in detail in order to deliver the car park in the first phase of development, the proposal was to demolish the Millgarth Police Station and move the NGT route onto the Ladybeck culvert, thereby leaving an adequate footprint on one side for the car park and a decent footprint for the retail development

The Leeds John Lewis would be designed with specific reference to the city, for example its cloth industry to ensure that it was of its time and place; was memorable and recognisable and that it stood for the city and the company.  The design of the building also had to work for the store to ensure there was sufficient daylight and there was flexibility to changing retail trends

The time line for the scheme was given, with Members being informed that public consultation would commence in February 2013, with the application for Phase 1 being submitted in April and determined possibly in August 2013, with a start on site in 2014 and completion in autumn 2016

Members commented on the following matters:

  General design issues

·  that the detail of the John Lewis store had changed since the original planning permission had been granted; whether because of this there would now be the need for a bridge over Eastgate and how this change would affect the power generation plant off Bridge Street which had been approved

·  the arcaded part of the scheme to the north of Eastgate and whether this remained part of the proposals

·  that the original scheme was to create a new quarter whilst retaining much of what was there to enable a flow through from the Trinity scheme, however this did  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

Thursday 17^th January 2013 at 1.30pm

  Thursday 17^th January 2013 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds