Agenda and minutes

A Member’s site visit was held in connection with the following applications: Application No.18/04278/FU – Bingley Street, Leeds and the Wellington Place Development, Whitehall Road, Leeds and was attended by the following Councillors: K.Brooks; R.Grahame; J.Mckenna; E.Nash; C.Campbell; B.Anderson; P.Wadsworth; T.Leadley and D.Blackburn

The Chair’s welcomed to the meeting students from Leeds Beckett University who were studying for a Degree in Journalism. In addressing the group the Chair said he hoped that they would find the proceedings of a Plans Panel meeting interesting and informative.

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 the refusal of inspection of documents.

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

There were no items identified where it was considered necessary to exclude the press or public from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

There were no late items of business identified.

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 made at the meeting.

To receive apologies for absence (If any)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: C Gruen and

J Goddard.

Councillors: K Brooks and R Grahame were in attendance as substitutes.

To consider and approve the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 25th October 2018.

(Copy attached)

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 25^th October 2018 were submitted for comment/ approval.

With reference to Minute No.80, residential development at Lisbon Square, Leeds 1, it was stated that Members had discussed the possible use of platform lifts, in particular for outdoor use, to provide improved access to the building, but this was not reflected within the minutes.

RESOLVED – That with the inclusion of the above, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 25^th October 2018 be accepted as a true and correct record.

To consider any Matters Arising from the minutes.

Pre-application proposal Leeds General Infirmary Site (Minute No.81 referred)  Members sought clarification on the number of new car parking spaces that would be created, the minute suggested that an additional 200 spaces would be created, was this figure correct given that the proposal included a new multi-storey car park.

In responding the City Centre Team Leader said the figure of 200 was correct, as a consequence of the new development some existing parking within the site would be lost but with the provision of a new multi storey car park, overall, an additional 200 spaces would be created. 

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of an application for the redevelopment of restaurant site to provide student accommodation up to 11 storeys with ancillary facilities, access and landscaping at 6 Bingley Street, Woodhouse, Leeds LS3 1LX.

(Report attached)

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which set out details of an application for the redevelopment of a restaurant site to provide student accommodation up to 11 storeys in height with ancillary facilities, access and landscaping at 6 Bingley Street, Woodhouse, Leeds, LS3 1LX.

Members visited the site prior to the meeting. Site photographs and plans were displayed and referred to throughout the discussion of the application.

Planning Officers addressed the Panel, speaking in detail about the proposal and highlighted the following and the applicant’s representative responded to Members queries:

·  Site/ location/ context

·  Nearby premises

·  Purpose built student accommodation, part 8 and 11 story’s in height

·  90 student flats (29 studio flats and 61 cluster flats)

·  Materials; bronze anodic metal cladding with glazed curtain wall

·  Communal areas/ Courtyard/ roof top communal space

·  Service arrangements/ deliveries

·  Pedestrian access

·   A minimum of 10% energy generation through the use of a combined heat and power system (CHP) and the use of roof top solar panels (Scheme to achieve BREEAM Excellent for multi- residential buildings)

Members raised the following questions to officers:

·  Were  the size of the cluster flats considered acceptable

·  Could an explanation be provide about the variation in kitchen sizes of the cluster flats

·  Had balconies been considered

·  Had the necessary statutory consultations taken place

·  Would the roof terrace be available to all residents

·  How would the internal space be managed and also the roof top space

·  Members sought clarification on the colour/ shade of the external materials

·  Referring to the size of the cluster bedrooms (13.5sqm) one Member asked if the amount of “unusable space” within the bedroom had been calculated

·  One Member queried if the development would generate a CIL Contribution (Community Infrastructure Levy)

·  It was noted that 9 new Hornbeam trees were proposed for the courtyard area. One Member expressed the view that only having one species of tree may not be appropriate, suggesting that additional species, birch, for example should also be considered to maximise the potential to provide a long term and robust planting treatment

In responding to the issues raised, the applicants representatives together council officers said:

·  The City Centre Team Leader said there were no established space standards for student cluster flats. In this case it was considered that each of the student rooms would provide adequate space for sleeping, studying and bathroom facilities. There would also be sufficient space for communal kitchen and living functions for each cluster flat. The provision of communal space would encourage residents to socialise outside their private accommodation and provide additional amenity space. It was therefore considered that the residents would benefit from acceptable levels of internal amenity.

·  Members were informed that there were a number of constraints associated with site; it was on different levels, there were restricted uses to Bingley Street, a full width public footpath would be provided, service vehicles would only use land owned by the developer. It was suggested that all these constraints led to anomalies in the design of the building and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

To note that the next meeting will take place on Thursday, 6^th December 2018 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

RESOLVED – To note that the next meeting will take place on Thursday, 6^th December 2018 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.