Agenda and minutes

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.

There were no apologies for absence.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 5^th November 2020, to approve as a correct record.

RESOLVED – To approve the minutes of the 5^th November 2020 as a correct record with the following amendments:

• Minute 36 - APPLICATION 19/06190/FU - Change of use of former piggeries/stables to three dwellings, Hollinthorpe Low Farm, Swillington Lane, Swillington, LS26 8BZ.

To include that Mr Quinlan the applicant had offered to put in soak aways within the red line boundary.

• That Cllr. Collins had left the meeting at the end of discussions on APPLICATION 19/06190/FU - Change of use of former piggeries/stables to three dwellings, Hollinthorpe Low Farm, Swillington Lane, Swillington, LS26 8BZ.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented an Outline planning application for a residential development (C3) with all matters reserved with the exception of access, at land off The Rowans, Wetherby.

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented an outline planning application for a residential development (C3) with all matters reserved except for access at Land off The Rowans, Wetherby, Leeds, LS22 5EB.

Slides and photographs were shown throughout the presentation.

Members were provided with the following information:

·  Another objection had been received from 22 The Rowans;

·  The Highways Team had requested a £10K contribution to highway improvements – most specifically towards parking restrictions along York Road;

·  The application was for a residential development with all matters reserved except the access;

·  The application site is a parcel of land off The Rowans in Wetherby;

·  The site is open countryside safeguarded by Rural Land policy RL1 within the Unitary Development Plan (UDP);

·  The application was brought to Panel by local ward members who raised concerns in relation to highway safety and flood risk;

·  The site is currently vacant and separate to a main development near the Wetherby flyover. The site is located in flood zone 2 and slightly in flood zone 3;

·  The Highways Team had requested a £10K contribution to highway improvements – most specifically towards parking restrictions along York Road;

·  Access would be improved with a road surface suitable for adoption from York Road, with a 20mph speed limit, with the addition of bus stops on York Road. It was noted that Highways had no objections to the proposals;

·  The Highways Team had requested a £10K contribution to highway improvements – most specifically towards parking restrictions along York Road;

·  Wetherby already has two major development sites which will see 1,100 homes to be built at Race Course Approach and those already built at Spofforth Hill when all finished would increase the population of Wetherby by a third;

·  The site is close to the Wetherby Young Offenders facility which has many staff and visitors, who park on the small lane and road close by;

·  There are clear highway safety issues, with concerns regarding traffic exceeding the speed limit already on surrounding roads and a poor access road;

·  There are no linkages from the proposed sites to the other sites, the only access would be along the main road where there is only footfall to one side. There had been a conflict in the Officer Report regarding access and connectivity;

·  It was noted that Taylor-Wimpey had an interest in land adjacent to the site which had previously been the site of a car wash. This land could be developed for 60 houses and was not on a flood zone;

·  Members were advised that Wetherby does need more affordable housing, particularly houses for the elderly and first-time buyers, but a pragmatic approach was required and this proposal is not believed to comprise sustainable development.

Members’ were advised of the following by Planning Officers to clarify on points raised by the speakers:

·  This application was for 9 houses which falls under the number required for the applicant to provide affordable housing. Conditions could be added should the developer increase the number of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer sets out a position statement for the demolition of the nave and aisles of the church, to be replaced with a six story extension; the chancel, transept areas and altars will be retained and restored to contain 62 apartments. The presbytery will also be demolished and replaced with a 5 storey apartment block of 113 No. apartments (total residential development comprising of 175 units). Other works to include new access, proposed ECVP parking, cycle storage and landscaping works at St Marys Church, Church Road, Richmond Hill, Leeds, LS9 8LA

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented a position statement for a proposed development at St Marys Church, Church Road, Richmond Hill, Leeds, LS9 8L.

The report informed Members that the proposal was for the demolition of the Nave and Aisles of the church, replaced with a six story extension; the Chancel, Transept areas and Altars to be retained and restored to contain 62 apartments. The Presbytery would also be demolished and replaced with a 5 storey apartment block of 113 No. apartments with a total residential development comprising of 175 units. Other works including new access, proposed EVCP parking, cycle storage and landscaping works.

Slides and photographs were shown throughout the presentation.

Members were informed of the following points:

·  The church and the presbytery were listed as grade II buildings;

·  Proposed access to the site would be from Richmond Hill Approach. Local ward members had suggested an access point from Places Road, however it was noted that this access would not be suitable due to visibility;

·  The site is currently in a poor state of repair, the church last being used in 1989. There had been a previous application for an extension to the church and the presbytery but this had lapsed in 2014;

·  Bespoke viability studies had been undertaken, with four options considered, this proposal presented the best option in terms of viability  although this proposal would still result in a deficit;

·  The proposal included parking spaces and also a public right of way from the site to the city centre;

·  Building materials would consist of a zinc copper cladding and buff colour cladding to complement the existing church;

·  It was noted that the proposal did not include provision of any planning obligations, such as affordable housing, public open space or any Section 106 monetary contributions;

·  These would be residential properties which meet the space standards policy;

·  Negotiations are ongoing in relation to parking permits for Richmond Hill Close;

·  There would be parking and a cycle store on site.

In attendance at the meeting were representatives for the applicant:

·  Waqar Hussain

·  Mark Henderson

·  Mark Finch

·  Jeremy Sokel

Mr Brian Maguire, District Valuer also attended for this item.

The Panel were informed of the following points:

·  This is a challenging and complex site to develop, but it looks to retain important elements of the building and  bring some elements of the church back into use;

·  The proposal links to the city centre via a public rights of way to Saxton Gardens, and the newer development on Marsh Lane and Richmond Hill;

·  The site has been dormant and undeveloped for many years and so there is now a great desire to bring this into use as a viable asset, with the expertise the design team would bring allowing a valuable housing and a community asset to come to an iconic building;

·  Work has been undertaken with Historic England, the Civic Trust and with Leeds City Council Conservation Team.

·  The developers were of the view that they had addressed all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

The Chair informed the Members that this would be the last North and East Plans Panel that Pam Warburton would be attending. Pam was a technical officer in Planning, who assisted with the presentation and over the past few months had been supporting Members whilst on the zoom meetings. Members were advised that Pam was leaving her current position to take up another still within planning. The Chair thanked and congratulated Pam, wishing her the best for the future.

The Chair thanked everyone for their attendance and hoped that everyone would have a great Christmas and best wishes for 2021.

The next meeting of the North and East Plan Panel will be 21^st January 2021, at 1:30pm.

The next meeting of the North and East Plans Panel will be on Thursday 21^st January 2021 at 1:30pm.

The meeting concluded at 17:33