Agenda and minutes

A Members site visit was held in connection with the following applications:

Application No. 18/07433/FU – Proposed residential development at Manston Lane, Leeds 15, Application No. 19/01010/FU – Proposed residential development at Saxton Lane, Leeds 9 and a visit to view the completed student housing development at St Albans Place, Leeds 1 and was attended by the following Councillors: C Campbell, P Carlill, A Garthwaite, C Gruen, P Gruen, G Latty and J McKenna

Members stood in silent tribute in honour of Councillor Gerald Wilkinson who’s death was announced a few days prior.

The Chair said Gerald had been a Member of the City Council for twenty years, serving on a variety of Committees including a number of years as a Member of North and East Plans Panels. He was well respected and his contributions and experience would be sadly missed.

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 considered.

Although there were no late items, the Chair had accepted the inclusion of Supplementary Information in respect of Agenda Item No. 9 - Erection of 437 Dwellings at Radial Park, Manston Lane, Leeds 15 (Summary of the District Valuer’s Viability Report) - Minute No.63 referred.

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: D Blackburn, P Wadsworth and N Walshaw.

Councillor B Anderson was in attendance as a substitute Member for Councillor P Wadsworth.

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 19^th September 2019.

(Copy attached)

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 19^th September 2019 were submitted for comment/ approval.

With reference to Minute No.52, Members requested the following amendments:

Member’s comments section:

4^th bullet down, to read as follows:

·  All Members were of the view that further consideration was required as to the provision of living/ green walls or alternatively a “Virginia Creeper” which was low maintenance. The suggestion that long term management and maintenance implications was a prohibitive factor, was not acceptable

5^th bullet down, the following words be added at the end of the paragraph

or other relevant people so as to ensure diversity and broad representation 

To consider any matters arising from the minutes.

There were no issues raised under Matters Arising.

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of a major application for Build to Rent residential development of 7-22 storeys with 349 apartments, landscaping, basement parking and associated works at land off Marsh Lane, Saxton Lane and Flax Place, Leeds, LS9 8HE

(Report attached)

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which set out details of an application for a build to rent residential development of 7 – 22 storey’s with 349 apartments, landscaping, basement parking and associated works to land off Marsh Lane, Saxton Lane and Flax Place, Leeds, LS9 8HE.

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:

·  Site/ location/context

·  The proposal is to erect 2 buildings (A & B) separated by public realm which provides a permeable route for pedestrians from Saxton Lane to the south, through to Railway Street to the north and then on through the railway arches to the Marsh Lane/ Shannon Street development area and Quarry Hill

·  Building (A) steps from 18 to 20 to 22 floors in height, Building (B) steps up from 6 to 12 and then up to 18 storeys at its highest point and is an open U-shaped in plan

·  The two buildings are 20m apart at their nearest point at first floor level, then rising to 25m and 35m at the upper levels

·  Built to rent development, 349 apartments, 1 ,2 and 3 beds, all apartments meet Nationally Described Space Standards

·  Residential facilities in both Blocks A & B comprising community, work and event space, plant, refuse and bicycle storage areas.

·  Vehicular access via a ramp to a basement parking area taken from Flax Place

·  53 parking spaces, including 3 disabled spaces, 5 electric changing points to be provided and 15 motorcycle spaces

·  Public realm through the centre of the site would be a mix of hard and soft landscaping containing trees in raised planters. There is also an apron of land fronting Marsh Lane which would be given over to grass containing wind mitigation features supplemented by landscaping

·  Public realm would be a managed space with concierge

·  Steps/ ramp up to centre space

·  Materials – Metal frame with brickwork and masonry, punched window openings, with mixed palette of complementary brick tones to be used across both buildings

·  Extensive wind testing, wind mitigation measure including the provision of perforated wind panels

·  Affordable housing provision (15 units) following submission of a financial viability assessment

Members raised the following questions to officers:

·  The site had been the subject of a wind tunnel study, which direction does the wind come from

·  5 Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCP) are to be provided in the basement of the building, given that the city has declared a climate emergency could more EVCP’s be provided 

·  What was envisaged would be the situation when all parking spaces in the basement of the building were occupied in terms of further parking for occupiers

·  Could further clarification be provided about the affordable housing provision

·  Was there good connectivity from the site to the city centre

·  Could further details be provided about the design of the wind mitigation features

·  Was the applicant providing all necessary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets put details of an application for the erection of 437 dwellings with new roads, open space, landscaping, drainage and associated works at Radial Park, Manston Lane, Leeds, LS15 8ST

(Report attached)

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which provided a Position Statement in respect of an application for the erection of 437 dwellings with new road, open space, landscaping, drainage and associated works at Radial Park, Manston Lane, Leeds, LS15 8ST.

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

Both the planning case officer and the applicant’s representatives addressed the Panel, speaking in detail about the proposal and highlighted the following:

·  Site / location/ context

·  Site lies within a valley

·  Former industrial site, some contamination of the land

·  The site excludes the Barnbow Social Club

·  Masterplan demonstrates connectivity throughout the site

·  Areas of greenspace throughout the development

·  Newt pond on site

·  The site is currently undergoing remedial works, it is understood that the final phase of these works (grouting to stabilise the ground) has been commenced and work on conditions discharge submissions is still on-going

·  A bund is located at the northern end of the site

·  Access into the development is from Manston Lane via three access points

·  The proposal is to erect 437 dwellings, variation of house types, heights and number of bedrooms

·  The site is being developed by two house builders: Strata at the eastern portion of the site and Redrow would develop the western portion

·  Houses will be constructed using a mix of artificial stone and brick (Red and buff) with render present to some elevations

·  Issues of viability due to “abnormal costs”

·  Affordable Housing 7.5% (based on a financial viability assessment)

The Planning Case Officer reported the receipt of two further representations from members of the public. One suggested that the provision of affordable housing led to issues of anti-social behaviour and further affordable housing provision should be resisted. The other suggests that the submitted viability assessment was inaccurate and so there should be the provision of more affordable housing on-site.

Members raised the following questions:

·  Was it correct that one of the proposed house types did not meet the Council’s adopted space standards

·  It had been suggested that the overall design on the masterplan is of “calmness”, but how has this conclusion been reached

·  There appeared to be a number of long straight roads throughout the development, but how was it envisaged that speed would be restricted here to 20mph to avoid vehicles “racing”

·  This was an intensive layout, did the development meet the Greenspace Standards and were the garden size also in accordance with policy requirements

·  It was disappointing that the full provision of affordable housing could not be delivered, there was some abnormal costs associated with the development but had the developers paid too much for the land

·  The developers had contributed to the Manston Lane Link Road, but were there other schemes in the area where developers had not contributed to the MLLR

·  What was the future relationship with and plans for Barnbow Social Club

·  Could some variety be given to what is an otherwise very  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

To note that the next meeting will take place on Thursday, 31^st October 2019 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

To note that the next meeting will take place on Thursday, 31^st October 2019 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.