Agenda and minutes

  In the absence of Councillor Taggart, nominations to chair the meeting were sought

  RESOLVED -  That Councillor Congreve be asked to Chair the meeting

  Councillor Congreve in the Chair

  The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked Members and Officers to introduce themselves

  The Chair also stated that the pre-application presentations in respect of Merrion House (Preapp/11/00700) and Bridgewater Place (Preapp/13/00693) had been withdrawn from the agenda and would be presented to Panel at a future date

  Although there were no formal late items, the Panel was in receipt of the following supplementary information which had been circulated prior to the meeting:

  Application 13/02861/FU – educational campus at former Yorkshire Chemicals site, Black Bull Street LS10 – an addendum to the submitted report and a plan showing the extent of the s.278 Highway works (minute 46 refers)

  Pre-application 13/00656 – student accommodation at City Campus Calverley Street LS1 – a revised site location plan (minute 48 refers)

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

  Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Taggart; Councillor Nash and Councillor Ingham, who were substituted for respectively by Councillor Congreve; Councillor J McKenna and Councillor A McKenna

To approve the minutes of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 1^st August

(minutes attached)

  RESOLVED -  That the minutes of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 1st August 2013 be approved

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding an application for a new 3 storey educational campus, external amenity spaces, car parking, servicing facilities and associated landscaping

  Further to minute 10 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 6^th June 2013, where Panel considered a pre-application presentation on proposals for a new educational campus for Leeds College of Building, Members considered the formal application.  The Panel was also in receipt of an additional report which provided further information on several matters, including the provision of off-site highway works; public transport improvements, including the comments of Metro; details of the Section 106 obligations and further proposed conditions which had been circulated prior to the meeting

  Plans, graphics, drawings and sample materials were displayed at the meeting

  Officers presented the report and outlined the revisions to the scheme since it was last presented to Members, with more animation to the north gable being provided; additional windows to increase natural surveillance to the cycleway/footpath and the additional of parapet coping detail to the south block and increased planting within the scheme

  Reference and respect was paid to the adjacent Alf Cooke building, with the use of brick to the elevation facing that building.  Further historic references to the industrial heritage of the area were provided through the saw-tooth design of the workshop roofs and a further industrial reference point would be provided by the provision of a metal clad chimney – required for the biomass boiler -  rising out of the two storey block

  Regarding landscaping, together with the creation of a small public space, green routes would be provided along Hunslet Lane and a boulevard effect would be created through tree planting along Black Bull Street with Members being informed that any further schemes along Black Bull Street would add to the tree planting along this route

  In relation to off-site highway works, Members were referred to the information contained in the additional report which set out a range of measures to support the development and achieve the wider regeneration objectives which had been identified in the South Bank Planning Statement and which included the provision of additional controlled crossings; upgrading of an existing crossing; amendment to waiting restrictions in the area and widening of the footway at Cudbear Street along the site’s frontage.  Members were informed that the estimated cost of these works was approximately £150,000 and the works would be controlled by a Grampian condition to be delivered prior to the occupation of the college building

  In terms of the S106 package, less than the standard amount of public realm was being delivered, this being 12% of the site area, whereas the policy requirement would be 20%.  However, taking into account the additional wider pedestrian and cycle connectivity the scheme would bring, it was proposed that a commuted sum of £30,000 in-lieu of on-site provision be accepted, with this funding to be spent on feasibility and design work on the City Centre Park

  Members welcomed the proposals and the alterations made to the scheme to address some of the Panel’s previous concerns 

Members commented on the following matters:

·  the green cladding to one element of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding a pre-application for a 10 storey hotel building and associated public realm works.

This is a pre-application and no formal decision 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.

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

  The Panel considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer on pre-application proposals for a 10 storey hotel and public realm works on land at Greek Street and received a presentation on behalf of the developers

  Members were informed that Bond Court was a strategic location, was surrounded by several major quarters in the City Centre, as well as being a main thoroughfare and close to the railway station.  The proposals for a four star-plus boutique hotel in this location would also enhance the mixed offer which currently existed along Greek Street and would form a catalyst for regeneration of this area.  This would also include the regeneration of Bond Court which, despite benefitting from high levels of footfall, suffered from conflicting servicing and traffic arrangements, making it currently an unattractive location for pedestrians.  The overhang from Akbar’s restaurant to Minerva House would also be demolished to open up pedestrian links into the wider area.  No servicing would be permitted through Bond Court to further enhance the pedestrian nature of this area

  In terms of land ownership in this area, the site and the adjacent buildings of Minerva House and Capitol House were in the same ownership, with refurbishments planned for both of these, which would complement the proposed new hotel

  The design of the hotel would provide active frontages on all sides, with a bar on Greek Street and outside areas, partially undercover.  The hotel entrance would be off Bond Court.  No car parking would be provided on the site

  Generous sized bedrooms were proposed for the hotel, with the standard room size being 24sqm; 30sqm for family rooms and suites with the largest suite being 45sqm

  On the Greek Street elevation large areas of glazing were proposed at ground and first floor level, with other materials being reconstituted granite; reconstituted stone panelling and zinc panelling to the top floor.  To Bond Court a dramatic curve would be created which would encourage pedestrians into this area and would also avoid the creation of a blank gable end to Minerva House

  In terms of operator, this would be a world-wide operator of boutique hotels which saw Leeds as a location to develop its brand and bring a new hotel offer to the city, along with restaurants and bars

  Members commented on the following matters:

·  the location of the hotel entrance in Bond Court in view of the taxi rank being located in Greek Street and how visitors would manage with luggage in view of there being no on-site car parking

·  whether the top floor of the building would have a public use

·  the opportunity to close Russell Street to traffic and pedestrianise it

·  the entrance to the hotel and how this would look

·  how Bond Court would work once the alterations, new development and public realm were in place

·  the need for a public transport contribution towards the proposed nearby  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding an application for new student accommodation buildings

This is a pre-application and no formal decision 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.

  Plans, including a revised location plan circulated prior to the meeting, together with graphics and a model were displayed at the meeting.  A Members site visit had taken place earlier in the day

  The Panel considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer on pre-application proposals for two new student accommodation buildings at the former Leeds Metropolitan University’s City Campus site; the proposals representing the third and final phase of the developer’s masterplan.  Members received a presentation on the scheme on behalf of the developer

  Members were informed that the proposals were for blocks, partly linked at ground floor level and providing student accommodation in a mix of studios and cluster flats, study and common room area and a small ancillary retail unit.  A total of 410 bedspaces were proposed with 20 of these being DDA accessible

Areas of hard and soft landscaping would be provided which would include undulating lawns to address the changing levels on the site and new tree and shrub planting would enhance this publicly accessible space

  The proposed materials were high quality pre-cast concrete and glazing with the use of some lighter colour materials to reflect the Portland Stone of the Civic Hall

  After hearing the presentation and viewing the model, Members commented on the following matters:

·  the need for connectivity between the two buildings and the Rose Bowl and for improved access across Portland Way.  Members were informed there was a new crossing approximately halfway along Portland Way, although it was accepted that this did not exactly align with the proposed pedestrian route through the development

·  the design of the proposals, with mixed views on this; that the design was sympathetic to the surrounding campus environment and the view that what was proposed was a continuation of the established grid pattern, whereas some slight move away from the existing buildings might be an improvement

·  concern about how the public space would work and whether it would receive any sun

·  whether there was a need for further student accommodation and that a cross-party Working Group had been established to look into this matter, had taken advice from a range of sources including Unipol and Renew; and was soon to report its recommendations to Executive Board and that the applicant would need to demonstrate to Panel there was a need for this development

·  that there was unlikely to be another site more suitable for student accommodation and if approved, this could return some large houses in Headingley currently used for student housing, back into family homes

·  the difficulties in assessing need as it could be that if this scheme was approved and developed, then other student schemes either in the pipeline or approved but not yet implemented, might not proceed

·  whether some of the student accommodation schemes built 10 – 12 years ago and which were not full could be converted to residential accommodation and if so, the implications in terms of the loss of S106 contributions which would have been part of a residential  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

Thursday 19^th September 2013 at 1.30pm (additional meeting)

Thursday 26^th September 2013 at 1.30pm

  Thursday 19^th September 2013 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds (additional meeting)

  Thursday 26^th September 2013 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds