Agenda and minutes

South and West Plans Panel - Thursday, 26th October, 2023 1.30 pm

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds

Contact: Tasha Prosser  Agenda papers will be published on the Council’s website ahead of each meeting

Link: to view the meeting

Items
No. Item

37.

Appeals Against Refusal of Inspection of Documents

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)

 

Minutes:

There were no appeals.

 

38.

Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

 

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

 

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

 

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

 

 

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That, in accordance with Schedule A to the Local Government Act 1972 and Access to Information Procedure Rules 10.4 (1), the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as exempt from publication on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information so designated as follows:-

A)  That the appendix to Agenda Item 7 – 22/06335/RM Land at Owlcotes Road, Pudsey, Leeds and referred to in minute no.43 be designated as exempt from publication and considered in private. This is on the grounds that it contains information relating to protected characteristics and it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information at present.

 

39.

Late Items

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

 

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

 

Minutes:

There were no formal late items.

 

40.

Declarations of Interests

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

Minutes:

No interests were declared.

 

41.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received on behalf of Councillor T Smith. Councillor R Stephenson attended as her substitute.

 

42.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting - 28 September 2023 pdf icon PDF 262 KB

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held Thursday, 28th September 2023 as an accurate record.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held Thursday, 28th September 2023 be approved as an accurate record.

 

43.

22/06335/RM - land at Owlcotes Road, Pudsey, Leeds pdf icon PDF 3 MB

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding a reserved matters (appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale) application for 50 dwellings and 4 apartments to outline permission 21/10203/OT, on land at Owlcotes Road, Pudsey, Leeds.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Chief Planning Officer set out an application for a reserved matters (appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale) application for 50 dwellings and 4 apartments to outline permission 21/10203/OT, on land at Owlcotes Road, Pudsey, Leeds.

The application is brought to Plans Panel given the large-scale nature of the

development, and the very high level of local interest, at the request of Councillor Andrew Carter, who has stated he considers the application needs to be brought before Members due to design and amenity concerns.

 

Photographs and slides were shown throughout the officer presentation, and

the following information was provided:

·  The site consists of an irregular shaped area of green field land, which lies on thenorthern side of Owlcotes Road. The application is within the settlement of Pudsey.

·  It was noted that a Panel site visit took place on 28thSeptember 2023 where Members viewed the site and surrounding context.

·  The majority of the development comprises of semi-detached properties (42 units). The four flats are within 2 separate blocks, and there are two blocks of 3 terraced properties (6 units) and 2 detached bungalows. A total of 54 dwellings are proposed.

·  The majority of properties feature bay windows and canopies.

·  Land levels identify a slight slope on the land. It is considered this will not impact upon overshadowing or over dominance.

·  All of the distances to nearby properties are exceeded significantly.

·  There are 17 objections to the application. Most of the objections relate to the principal of development on-site which is not a consideration in determining the application.

·  An objection sets out serious implications for health and therefore the Local Planning Authority have conducted an Equality Impact Assessment, and this has been appended to the submitted report and designated as exempt.

·  The layout of the site has been discussed with the applicant to increase spacing on-site, and as a result, 12 units were removed.

·  Amendments also relocated the greenspace area, and this is now centrally located. A number of properties will face onto the greenspace area.

·  Few house types have been proposed to demonstrate a cohesive appearance.

·  Parking is proposed to be on site driveways.

·  The central open greenspace proposes a number of trees to be planted as well as street trees.

·  The relationship to existing properties meets minimum space standards.

·  Solar panels to be provided to all units which contributes to 40% of the sites energy demand, exceeding the minimum requirement of Policy EN1.

·  It is considered that the proposals provide much needed affordable housing and on-site greenspace.

 

At this point in the meeting, members moved into private session to consider the appendix to the submitted report designated as exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rules 10.4 (1)

 

The private session concluded, and everybody was welcomed back into the meeting. The Chair explained that members considered private information during the closed session, and this was necessary so that members were provided with the opportunity to have due regard to the public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

44.

20/02710/FU - Cartwright House, Springwell Road, Holbeck, Leeds, LS12 1AX pdf icon PDF 3 MB

To receive and consider the attached repot of the Chief Planning Officer regarding an application for the demolition of existing building and construction of a 30 Storey residential development totalling 345 apartments with ancillary commercial space, landscaping and external amenity space - Cartwright House, Springwell Road, Holbeck, Leeds, LS12 1AX.

 

Minutes:

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented an application for the demolition of existing building and construction of a 30 Storey residential development totalling 345 apartments with ancillary commercial space, landscaping, and external amenity space at Cartwright House, Springwell Road, Holbeck, Leeds, LS12 1AX.

 

The application is further to a Position Statement that was reported to Panel on 6th July 2023. Also following an earlier pre-application presentation of the proposals by the applicant at City Plans Panel, presented on 21st November 2019. The scheme presented at pre-application stage differed substantively from the current scheme, being for a block of 24 storeys with a different use of materials.

 

At the previous meeting on 6th July, members raised a number of concerns in relation to parking, the provision of greenspace and making the development more family orientated. Since then, the application has substantially changed. The development has reduced from 36 storeys to 30 storeys. The planning officer presenting the report, provided the following information:

·  The site lies close to the junction of Whitehall Road, Springwell Road and Springwell Street, which is located in an area of transition just outside the boundary of the designated City Centre. The site is also within the Holbeck Neighbourhood Plan.

·  Phase 1 of the development is nearing completion.

·  The number of units has reduced from 400 to 345.

·  To the north of the building is where the children’s play area will be situated.

·  The number of parking spaces has increased to 27. An increase of 9 spaces.

·  At the basement level, cycle spaces are proposed.

·  The swimming pool has been removed from the proposals, as well as a reduction in size of the gym. It is proposed that there is a community / internal play area for families and children and can be accessed at ground floor level. It is intended that the children’s play area will spill out onto the podium level.

·  The proposed 3-bed units all have habitable windows.

·  The units are accessible and comply with Policy H10. The applicant proposes 8 wheelchair accessible units, and the remaining units are adaptable.

·  The reduction in height of the building, has less of an impact on sunlight and daylight. However, it is acknowledged that there will still be an impact. There will be later periods of sunlight in the afternoon as the sun transfers past the building.

·  Pictures were referred to showing the emerging context of the building in relation to its surroundings, and Phase 1 of the development.

·  Wind mitigation measures will be provided in the form of tree sculptures, as well as screens and partitions. The Access Officer has supported the scheme in principal but requires further information regarding wind mitigation.

·  The sky garden will be protected by wind, via use of screens and is child friendly. It is considered that a good level of amenity has been provided both internally and externally.

·  The nearest area of sufficient greenspace is considered to be Holbeck Moor Park, which is approximately 900m away. It was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

45.

23/05968/S106 - Former Airedale Mills, Moss Bridge Works, Town Street, Rodley, Leeds, LS13 1HP pdf icon PDF 3 MB

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding an application under S106A for the modification or discharge of Planning Obligations pursuant to Section 106A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to vary the existing S106 Agreement to application 18/01501/OT to remove the build to rent and PRS covenants at Former Airedale Mills, Moss Bridge Works, Town Street, Rodley, Leeds, LS13 1HP.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented an application under S106A for the modification or discharge of Planning Obligations pursuant to Section 106A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to vary the existing S106 Agreement to application 18/01501/OT to remove the build to rent and PRS covenants at Former Airedale Mills, Moss Bridge Works, Town Street, Rodley, Leeds, LS13 1HP.

 

The Chair noted that the application has been brought to Plans Panel in accordance with the Chief planning Officers delegation arrangements whereby the Chair in consultation with the Chief Planning Officer considers that the application should be referred to this Plans Panel for determination because of the significance of the proposal to vary an existing S106 agreement to 100% Affordable Housing.

 

The officer in attendance provided the Panel with the following information regarding the proposed changes to the S106 Agreement:

·  Removal of the Build to Rent / PRS (Private Rented Sector) covenant. This restriction (in para 2 of the First Schedule of the Deed of Variation) needs to be removed as the scheme will not be delivered as 100% rented housing with associated amendments to remove the PRS Limitation Period and remove definitions relating to the PRS Housing (e.g. PRS Operator, PRS Units etc).

·  Inclusion of definitions of the Affordable Housing proposed (e.g., Social Rent, Social Rented Affordable Units, Intermediate Affordable Units, Intermediate Price) and removal of the definitions of Benchmark BTR Affordable Units, alongside any references to the rental price.

·  Removal of the restriction on occupying the Benchmark BTR Affordable Units only as Benchmark BTR Affordable Units.

·  Flexibility to provide 100% affordable housing so that any open market dwellings can be used as additional affordable housing but that the units are not affordable units for the purposes of the s106.

·  Inclusion of a Registered Provider exclusion clause (save for compliance with the specific affordable housing provisions).

 

It was noted that the site has been the subject of a previous outline permission (18/01501/OT) which granted consent for the principle of the development including means of access with all matters reserved.

 

There was a speaker in attendance against the proposal. The following concerns were raised:

·  Access issues in terms of accessing Rodley Nature Reserve and Rodley Cricket Club.

·  Uncertainty regarding management of the swing bridge.

·  A single owner of a build to rent scheme is considered attractive, specifically in regard to managing the swing bridge.

·  Maintenance of the ecology buffer.

 

Further to a suggestion regarding a Community Interest Company (CIC) and confusion around maintenance of the bridge, officers confirmed that these issues were not relevant to the specific application being considered, but in any event confirmed for information purposes that a collaboration agreement has been signed with the bridge management company, the Local Authority and Yorkshire Water which details maintenance of the swing bridge.

 

There was a speaker in support of the application in attendance. Members were informed with the following information:

·  Further to comments regarding the swing bridge, a collaboration agreement has been signed by the developer.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

46.

Date and time of next meeting

To note the date and time of the next scheduled meeting as Thursday, 23rd November 2023 at 1.30pm.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Thursday, 23rd November 2023 at 1.30pm.

 

The meeting ended at 17:20.