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.

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’.

Councillor Collins informed the Panel that she was a Member of Rawdon Parish Council.  Rawdon Parish Council had made representations with regards to the application.  Councillor Collins had not participated in any meetings where this had been discussed and would be treating the application with an open mind.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors R Finnigan and T Smith.

Councillor D Cohen was in attendance as substitute for Councillor T Smith.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2021.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding an application for the change of use and alterations of a former council building to form eight flats.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented a planning  application and a listed building consent  application for the change of use and alterations to a former council building to form eight flats with parking at Micklefield House, New Road Side, Rawdon.

Members visited the site prior to the meeting and site plans and photographs were displayed and referred to throughout the discussion of the application.

Further issues highlighted in relation to the application included the following:

·  The flats would be two bedroom with the exception of one three bedroom apartment.

·  The application was deferred at the March meeting for further discussion with regard to the design and materials for the first floor extension and to provide more detail on the conditions.

·  A local Ward Councillor had made an additional representation that following the further loss of visitor parking to the park, that a residents’ parking scheme should be funded via condition by the applicant.

·  Details of objections that had been received since the last time the application was considered by Panel.  It was not felt that these raised any new issues or material considerations.

·  The existing access from New Road Side would still be used.

·  Grass towards the front of the building would be removed for additional car parking.

·  There was only a small outdoor amenity space but this was felt to be acceptable due to the constraints of the site, and the adjacent parkland.

·  The ramp to the front of the building would be removed.

·  Bin storage would be to the side of the building.

·  The stained-glass window at the first floor would be restored.

·  The existing flat roofed extension would be extended above to incorporate a first floor.  The extension would be cladded in a mirrored finish.

·  There would be some digging out to provide rooms for a basement flat and rooms to another flat.

·  Internal floor plans were shown.  The extension was needed to retain use of the tower part of the building.

·  Examples of other buildings with a mirrored or highly reflective  finish were displayed.

·  The recommendation to approve the applications was finely balanced.

·  All the apartments would be policy compliant in terms of space standards

·  There would be 16 car parking spaces, with electric vehicle charging and a cycle space for each apartment.

·  Parking would be less intensive than when the building was used as an office block and would not necessitate the need for permit parking for residents.

·  While there had been objections to the application, these were principally about the extension and the proposed mirrored cladding.  The proposal would bring a listed building back into use and maintain/restore its main features whilst providing a viable re-use.  It was recommended that the applications be approved.

The Panel heard from local representatives who were speaking in objection to the applications.  Issues highlighted included the following:

·  There had not been any supporter of this application and over 65 objections.

·  The applicant had not acted on the objections.

·  A reduction to seven flats without the extension  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

Thursday, 22 January 2022 at 1.30 p.m.

Thursday, 20 January 2022 at 1.30 p.m.