Agenda and minutes

The site visits were attended by Councillors Walshaw, Hamilton, Nash, Ritchie and Wilkinson.

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 exempt items.

There were no late items.

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.

The were no apologies for absence.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of North and East Plans Panel held on 18^th January 2018.

RESOLVED - The minutes of the previous meeting held on 18^th January 2018 be approved as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer on an application for the demolition of existing buildings and construction of six apartments with associated access, landscaping and car parking at 7 Wakefield Road, Garforth.

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Planning Officer set out an application which proposed the demolition of the existing buildings and the construction of 6 two bedroom apartments with associated access, car parking and landscaping at 7 Wakefield Road, Garforth.

Members were advised that this application was a resubmission following the refusal of planning permission for a detached house and six self-contained flats with associated gardens and car parking at the site under planning Ref: 14/01717/FU. The applicant appealed against the decision but the decision was dismissed due to design and residential amenity concerns. 

This planning application was brought to Plans Panel at the request of Cllr. Mark Dobson who cites reasons of over saturation of vehicles at a pinch point at Town End junction with Wakefield Road and flooding issues. Members were given an update in which Cllr. Dobson reiterated his representations against the application and included the following comments:-

·  I am disappointed to read that the development at 7 Wakefield Road, Garforth has been recommended for approval;

·  Again Cllr. Field and I feel that the overdevelopment on a busy A road, the increased traffic and flood risk have not been addressed by the applicant and question the officers recommendations;

·  Please consider this and, we suggest, panel members look to, again, reject.

Members had attended a site visit earlier in the day, photographs and plans were shown throughout the presentation.

The proposal for the site was set out at point 2.0 of the submitted report. Members were advised that the current reconfiguration with a single access had been submitted after negotiations with officers.

Members were informed of the following points:-

·  Concerns raised in relation to on street parking in relation to associated terraces and the doctors surgery nearby.

·  Proposal sets out 9 parking spaces which is within parking guidelines.

·  The proposed development was adequately positioned away from the bungalow to the rear of the site and was not considered to be unduly dominant.

·  It was proposed that there would be replacement planting on the site.

·  The six apartments would be over 3 floors with the upper apartments in the roof space.

·  All the apartments would be 2 bedrooms.

·  Two side windows which would serve stairwells and bathrooms would be obscure glazed.

Issues relating to drainage had been set out at 10.18 and 10.19 of the submitted report.

In response to Members comments and questions the following was discussed:-

·  Assurance that the site would be checked for Japanese Knotwood and eradicated if found.

·  Parking was adequate and the layout would be as set out in the submitted plan.

·  Parking of construction vehicles to be on site.

·  Construction work to be undertaken within standard times with no work on Sunday or Bank holidays.

·  Size of the flats as Members had been informed that 4 of the flats were below space standards guidelines. The 4 flats were short by 7.5sq metres. Members were also informed that consultation was still ongoing in relation to the emerging policy of National Space Standards. The Consultation will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 105.

To receive the report of the Chief Planning Officer which sets out an application for the installation of outdoor fitness equipment at the Playground, Kirkhills, Thorner, LS14 3JD

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Planning Officer sought planning permission for the installation of outdoor fitness equipment at the Playground, Kirkhills, Thorner, LS14 3JD.

The Playground is situated in Thorner’s Conservation Area. Councillor Matthew Robinson had requested that the application be brought to Plans Panel due to concerns raised by residents about the impact of the development upon the broader character and amenity of the area.

The application proposes six pieces of fitness equipment, situated next to the existing playground, in an area of open space within the centre of Thorner.

Members had attended a site visit earlier in the day, photographs and plans were shown throughout the presentation.

Members were advised of the following points:-

·  An application to vary condition 2 (approved plans) for Minor Material Amendment to allow for a wooden swing frame which was pending.

·  The proposed equipment and the height of each piece of equipment as set out at point 2.2 of the submitted report.

·  No lights or benches are proposed in this area.

·  The equipment will be beige and green in colour to be in keeping with the character of the area.

·  The fitness equipment would be screened from houses on Moat End by trees and shrubs.

·  Relevant planning policies were set out at 8.2 of the submitted report.

·  The Parish Council had undertaken a consultation survey and this was the preferred site.

·  The onus for Health and Safety would be on the Parish Council who own the land.

·  There would be an appropriate distance between the fitness equipment and the children’s playground, there is currently fencing which would be retained.

·  Equipment meets British Standards for safety

·  Highways had no objection as they were of the view that users would access the area on foot.

·  The Parish Council would be responsible for the maintenance and insurance of the equipment.

Mr Brereton attended the meeting speaking against the recommendations he informed the Panel of the following points:-

·  He had been a resident of Thorner for 20 years

·  Residents had asked that the application be brought before Plans Panel as the issue was bigger than this planning application

·  The area of concern stretched over 100 metres and directly affected 10 houses on Moat End.

·  Mr Brereton highlighted a number of points within the submitted report where the officer had referred to the ‘existing play area’ especially when dealing with an objection.

·  Stead Lane, Kirkhills was the most congested road in Thorner

·  The existing playground had been there for almost 40 years and the equipment was designed for children up to approximately 8 years of age.

·  Moat End was a relatively new development and residents of those houses had a choice of living there close to the existing children’s playground.

·  Advised Members that the existing playground was due to change with the removal of some equipment to be replaced with a tower that would provide views into nearby bedrooms on Moat End, a zip wire and climbing net.

Mr Brereton was of the view  ...  view the full minutes text for item 106.

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer on an application for alterations including two storey part single storey front, side and rear extension incorporating a double garage; first floor terrace area with balustrade to rear; inset dormer window to rear and raised roof height at 24 Lakeland Crescent, Alwoodley, Leeds.

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Planning Officer requested Members to consider an application for alterations including two storey part single storey front, side and rear extension incorporating a double garage; first floor terrace area with balustrade to rear; inset dormer window to rear and raised roof height at 24 Lakeland Crescent, Alwoodley, Leeds.

The application had been brought to Plans Panel at the request of Councillor Peter Harrand on the grounds of:

·  The proposed height of the proposal;

·  Potential overlooking of adjoining properties and lack of privacy;

·  Incursion into public footpath.

Members were informed of two further requests for the item to be determined at Plans Panel from Councillor Dan Cohen for the following reasons;

-  Front design is inconsistent with the street scene; particularly the height

-  Overbearing impact on adjoining properties; affecting light and privacy; and

Councillor Neil Buckley for the following reasons;

-  Impact on public right of way

-  Overbearing impact; loss of light

-  Incongruous design

Members were also informed of follow up comments from original objectors:

·  Alwoodley Parish Council cited objections as previously set out in the submitted report;

·  25 Lakeland Crescent unable to access revisions until 7th February;

·  23 Lakeland Crescent no front elevation shown on revised plans, previous comments still stands;

·  26 Lakeland Crescent unable to open plans until 9th February;

·  21 Lakeland Crescent no discernible differences;

·  22 Lakeland Crescent unable to originally access plans privacy screen of concern due to open fields/ high wind, removal of tree at boundary not helped. Previous objection remains;

·  23 Lakeland Crescent publication of officer report, in advance of 22nd February date inability to view plans.

The Panel was advised that once the officer had been made aware that the revised plans could not be accessed the Design and Access statement containing the revisions was uploaded onto Public Access.

Members were advised of an objection by the Ramblers Association set out at 6.3 of the submitted report. Members were further advised that the public right of way was in the ownership of the applicant.

Members had attended a site visit earlier in the day, photographs and plans were shown throughout the presentation.

Members were informed of the following points:-

·  Proposed height was consistent with neighbouring properties;

·   The integral garage would have space for two cars;

·  Houses on Lakeland Crescent were of different designs;

·  10.7 of the submitted report was highlighted especially in regard to special character and the privacy screen which would be condition 7;

·  10.9 of submitted report was highlighted, especially the quote from the NPPF Paragraph 59;

·  The parking provided was policy compliant;

·  Unprotected trees to be removed fencing and hedging was proposed;

·  The proposed alterations would not encroach on the public right of way

Mr Allanson of 23 Lakeland Crescent and on behalf of residents of numbers 21, 22, 25 and 26 attended the meeting to speak against the application.

Mr Allanson said that many of the residents had lived on Lakeland Crescent for a number of years whereas the applicant had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107.

To note the next meeting of the North and East Plans Panel with be on Thursday 22^nd March 2018 at 1:30pm.

To note the next meeting of the North and East Plans Panel will be held on Thursday 22^nd March 2018 at 1:30pm.