Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of City Development advising of the changes to the West Leeds Gateway Area Action Plan following consultation at the ‘Preferred Options’ stage and seeking support for a recommendation to be made to the Executive Board that the Plan be published and that formal representations be invited during October and November 2009, prior to it being formally submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination.

The Director of City Development submitted a report providing an update on the work undertaken to date on the West Leeds Gateway Area Action Plan (AAP), outlining the proposed timescales which would eventually lead to the proposed adoption of the plan and detailing the key changes to the AAP following the consultation exercise undertaken as part of the ‘Preferred Options’ stage.

The Panel received a brief overview of the main points detailed within the report, which included the key revisions to the AAP following the public consultation exercise held during the ‘Preferred Options’ stage. The key amendments related to the following aspects of the AAP:-

• Simplifying the overall structure of the AAP by reducing the number of cross-cutting themes within it from 7 to 5;
• Significantly reducing the number of properties proposed for demolition in New Wortley;
• Protecting a section of land at Phil May Court, New Wortley, for greenspace rather than developing it for housing provision;
• Increasing the potential for Armley Mills museum to accommodate ancillary and supporting uses in order to strengthen the museum as a visitor attraction;
• Improvement of accessibility levels across the area for those who are less physically able;
• The acknowledgement that any future development of Armley Gyratory would need to ensure that the highway layout was more accessible, safe and attractive to all users including pedestrians and cyclists;
• Emphasising the need to improve the appearance of the retail units located on Armley Town Street;
• Highlighting the criteria used to select those greenspace sites which had been prioritised for investment.

A question and answer session then ensued. The main areas of debate were as follows:-

• Members noted that the intended lifespan of the AAP was approximately 15-20 years;
• The Panel highlighted the obstructive nature of Armley Gyratory for all those residing in its vicinity, specifically pedestrians and cyclists, and discussed the ways in which the gyratory could be improved to ensure that local residents had easier access to employment opportunities in the surrounding areas;
• Members discussed several of the responses received during the period of informal consultation held during May – June 2009, and highlighted the nature of the Council’s comments towards the responses received from the Coal Authority;
• The Panel emphasised the need to ensure the conclusion and promotion of a definitive map which illustrated all linkages, routes and pathways throughout the area which could be accessed by pedestrians;
• Members discussed the various sources of funding which were being considered for the development of the AAP;
• The Panel enquired about the likelihood of the AAP extending its boundaries in the future in order to incorporate surrounding communities such as Bramley;
• Members voiced their support for the AAP and thanked all those officers involved for the work which had been undertaken and the progress which had been made. 

Following the receipt of legal advice, the Panel was advised that recommendation (ii), as detailed within the submitted report, was not required and therefore not to be taken into consideration.

RESOLVED –

(a). That the comments made in relation to the pre-submission draft of the West Leeds Gateway Area Action Plan be noted;

(b). That prior to submission to the Secretary of State, Executive Board be recommended to approve the publication of the West Leeds Gateway Area Action Plan Development Plan Document for the purposes of public participation in October 2009, and that the Board be recommended to invite formal representations on the document between 5th October and 16th November 2009.