Agenda and minutes

Councillors Akhtar, B Anderson, Heselwood, Jones, McKenna, Sharpe, and Stephenson attended the site visit earlier in the day.

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.

There were no exempt items.

There were no formal late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

Members did not declare any interests.

No apologies were received.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21^st September 2023, for approval as a correct record.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held Thursday, 21^st September 2023, be approved as an accurate record.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer requests Members consideration on an application for a phased development to comprise demolition of existing buildings and erection of a food store (Use Class E), care home (Use Class C2) and eight senior living homes (Use Class C3) with associated access, parking, servicing area and landscaping at Mercure Hotel, Leeds Road, Wetherby,

LS22 5HE.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented an application for a phased development to comprise demolition of existing buildings and erection of a food store (Use Class E), care home (Use Class C2) and eight senior living homes (Use Class C3) with associated access, parking, servicing area and landscaping at Mercure Hotel, Leeds Road, Wetherby, LS22 5HE.

Members of the Panel attended a site visit earlier in the day.

Photographs and slides were shown throughout the officer presentation, and the following information was provided:

·  The proposal seeks permission for a phased development to comprise demolition of existing buildings and erection of a food store (Use Class E), care home (Use Class C2) and eight senior living homes (Use Class C3) with associated access, parking, servicing area and landscaping.

·  At the time of the report being prepared, 122 objection comments had been received, including responses from Wetherby Town Council, Wetherby Civic Society, Better Wetherby Partnership and Leeds Civic Trust.

·  611 support comments had been received at the time of the report being prepared

·  The reasons for refusal are set out as follows:

o  Principle of development which prejudices delivery of a housing site – a substantial proportion of the site is of non-housing use and would thereby prejudice the plan-led approach for development that is adopted in Leeds. It is also considered that this may add pressure on greenfield sites.

o  Principle of out of town retail development – it is considered that the proposed development of a food store in an out-of-centre location has a significant impact on the vitality and viability of Wetherby Town Centre and contrary to wider objectives of the local development plan and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

o  Harm to heritage assets – Wetherby Conservation Area and the Grade II listed West Lodge, as well as negatively impacting upon the significance of a non-designated heritage asset, Grange View.

o  Impact to trees– the proposal includes inacceptable mitigation of tree loss and there is a poor relationship to TPO=designated trees in particular, as well as open land beyond the key gateway. It was noted that the officer report does not make reference to Core Strategy Policy SP13, and this is to be included in the reason for refusal if Members were minded to follow the Officer recommendation.

o  Amenity – there are concerns regarding poor standard of amenity for residents, and poor outlook distances to rear boundary windows and front windows. There are also poor garden areas in terms of shape and usability in terms of sun-light that can access them. There is also only a 1m buffer between the car park to the food store and senior living home gardens.

o  Highways – the failure to provide a mechanism to deliver necessary on-site and off-site highways works including contributions for highways works to address cumulative impacts on local hotspots, bus stop provision, a crossing on Boston Road, revisions to an existing weight limit from the nearby roundabout and pedestrian connectivity improvements, as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

To note that the next meeting of North and East Plans Panel is scheduled for Thursday 16^th November 2023 at 1.30pm.

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Thursday, 16^th November 2023 at 1.30pm.

The meeting ended at 14:55.