Agenda and draft 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.

There was no exempt information.

There were no late items.

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

There were no declarations.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor B Anderson.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 26 August 2021

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 August 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding an outline application for housing development including adopted highway access and associated external works.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented an outline application for housing development including adopted highway access and associated external works at Oldfield Lane, Wortley.

Site plans and photographs were displayed and referred to during the discussion of the application and there had been a visit to the site for Members of the Panel prior to the meeting.

The following was highlighted:

·  A previous permission in relation to this application at this site had been subject to a legal challenge which was quashed.  Members were advised that no regard should be given to that previous decision and that consideration should only be given to the information in the report, presentation and any representations made at the meeting.

·  The outline application was for the principle of development and access to the site with all other matters reserved for a future application.

·  Leeds City Council was the applicant and there would be the development of 100% council housing on the site.

·  The Site Allocation Plan allocated the site for housing and required on site greenspace to link up with the existing greenspace to the north of the site.

·  Conditions relating to accessible homes, environment policy, housing mix and space standards would be imposed if permission was granted.

·  There had not been any concerns regarding access from Highways.

·  Sport England had objected due to the loss of playing fields. 

·  There had been objections from Ward Members regarding the amount of greenspace in the ward, school capacity, the need for highway improvements and concerns regarding anti-social behaviour near footpaths to the site.

·  There had been concern raised regarding the Playing Pitch Strategy, however this strategy was  not  formally adopted.

·  The application was recommended for approval subject to conditions and notification to the Secretary of State.

A local resident addressed the Panel with objections to the application.  These included the following:

·  There was an ongoing judicial review regarding the application for Asset of Community Value

·  Sport England’s representations could not be ignored.  There was evidence of community use of the site dating back to 1850.

·  There was a community led bid being arranged to purchase the land.

·  There was a lack of policy in the Council relating to playing fields.

·  There was a deficiency of open greenspace and playing fields in Wortley and surrounding areas.

Members were advised that the position regarding the ongoing judicial review was  fully covered within the report .  The High Court  would be considering the issue later in the year. This did not change the view of planning officers.

In response to questions from the Panel, the objector highlighted the following:

·  According to the Council there was a deficiency of greenspace in the area.  The land could not prove to be surplus to requirements without a playing pitch policy.

·  The community group have a business plan was in place and sources of funding were available.

·  There were other nearby locations where sustainable housing could be built.

·  There was an offer from amateur sports clubs to use the pitches.

·  It  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding an application for the variation of condition 2 (approved plans) of approval 17/00100/FU: To remove container units in southern position of the site.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented an application for the variation of condition 2 (approved plans) of approval; 17/00100/FU: to remove container units from western boundary and include double stacked container units in southern portion of the site at land off Amberley Road, Upper Wortley, Leeds.

Site plans and photographs were displayed and referred to during the discussion of the application and there had been a visit to the site for Members of the Panel prior to the meeting.

The following was highlighted:

·  The application had previously been considered by Panel when it was deferred until Members could visit the site.

·  The application had been brought to Panel at the request of Ward Members.

·  Housing situated to the west of the site was in an elevated position.

·  Permission had been granted in 2017 for the use of storage containers at the site.

·  There had been a breach in the permitted hours of use and there had been complaints regarding noise nuisance outside the permitted hours.

·  There had also been a breach with regards to landscaping which this application aimed to resolve.

·  It was proposed to increase the number of storage units on site.  Plans showing the proposed lay out of the site were displayed.

·  There would be conditions relating to the landscaping scheme to include heavy standard trees on the western boundary and also to have a management plan for the site.

·  It was not envisaged there would be an increase in noise impact from the site.

·  There had been objections from local residents and Ward Members.

·  The application was recommended for approval.

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

·  There had been recent compliance with the hours of use at the site but not with the previously approved site plan and landscaping.

·  There was no permission to use the site for external storage of vehicles.  There would not be space to do this due to the intensification of the storage units.  There could be a condition to prevent external storage of goods on the site.

·  There would be a condition to ensure  customers were directed to use the Chelsea Close entrance to the site.

·  The applicant confirmed that there would not be any external storage of vehicles should the application be approved.  They would keep the container storage as single storey at the first stage and then move to double stacking as demand arises.

·  The site appeared to be well managed and organised when the site visit was held.

·  It was suggested that the following conditions be applied:

o  That there should be no external storage.

o  That some semi-standard trees be planted along the western boundary and that there is a maintenance agreement for the landscaping plan.

o  Removal of the containers that are positioned in front of the office block.

·  The applicant confirmed that he would be willing to carry out additional planting on the boundaries.

·  Members were supportive of additional conditions regarding landscaping.

·  There was some concern as to whether  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

Thursday, 21 October 2021 at 1.30 p.m.

Thursday, 21 October 2021 at 1.30 p.m.