Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to this the first “remote meeting” of North and East Plans Panel and apologised for the delay in the start of the meeting which had been due to technical issues.

The Chair explained that internet connectivity may be an issue for some participants and suggested it may be appropriate to appoint a Deputy Chair who could assume the Chair should the Chair loose connectivity.

The Chair proposed that Councillor Elizabeth Nash be nominated as the Deputy Chair, the proposal was seconded, upon been put to the vote the motion was passed.

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 of inspection of documents.

There were no items which required the exclusion of the press and public.

There were no formal late items. However, information provided by the objector had been circulated to Members as supplementary information, but on advice had been withdrawn from public view in light of concerns raised over its content by the applicant’s representative.

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. 

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made.

There were no apologies for this meeting.

To consider and approve the minutes of the North and East Plans Panel meeting held on 27^th February 2020.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 27^th February 2020, be approved as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer on an application for the construction of a pair of two storey semi-detached dwellings at Sheri Dene, Elmwood Lane, Barwick in Elmet, Leeds

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Planning Officer set out an application for the erection of a pair of two storey semi-detached dwellings at Sheri Dene, Elmwood Lane, Barwick-in-Elmet, LS15 4JX.

This application had been subject to a site visit which had taken place on the 27^th February 2020. At the meeting the application was subsequently deferred. Minute 81 refers.

Members were advised that officers had been on site since the last meeting and the presentation before them included updated photographs of the site as it was currently.

Since the publication of the report there had been additional representation and information which the Planning Officer provided for Members:

• Updated position on the Judicial review which was set out at paragraphs 2 and 3 of the report. All Parties have now signed a consent order and the condition on the original planning permission has now be quashed;
• Additional representation had been received from the residents at Throstle House who are of the view that the front building line should be maintained;
• Mr Hardy of Elmwood House had also sent in further representations which he had sent to Panel Members which included:
  • Additional drawings submitted by the agent are incorrect;
  • Raised concerns in relation to the conservation officers comments in relation to the listed building and the conservation area including the ‘crofts’ and ‘tofts’, the walls; and also relates to pre-determination of this application and that the Planning Officers report is biased;
  • Lack of engagement with the local community;
  • Also queries the content of the report and the description of the site and the area was of the view that negotiations etc. were flawed;
  • Concerns also raised on the greenfield site and the impact on the conservation area, impact on the listed building and impact on residential amenity of future occupants.

The presentation included photographs, drawings and maps.

Members were advised of the following points:

• Barwick-in-Elmet is a village with a few shops and public houses;
• The character of the area is a mix of historic and more modern buildings;
• Elmwood House is a grade II listed building along with curtilage front boundary wall;
• The proposal is for a pair of 2 storey semi-detached dwellings which would sit on the footprint of the previous bungalow. However, the proposed development is slightly larger than the previous footprint;
• The would be a single storey to the rear of the properties;
• The gardens of the two dwellings would be separated by a hedge along the boundary;
• Additional access off Elmwood Lane would be provided by ‘puncturing’ through the front boundary wall;
• The proposed dwellings would have gable roofs and chimneys. The construction materials are to be of natural stone and slate;
• Both dwellings would comprise of four bedrooms two including en-suites;
• The grass verge between the road and the boundary wall would remain, but the conifer growing close to the wall would be removed;
• The character of the area is varied with a mix of properties and materials;
• Members were advised of heritage  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The date and time of next meeting will be Thursday 13^th August 2020 at 1:30pm.

The next meeting of the North and East Plans Panel will be Thursday 13^th August 2020, at 1:30pm.