Agenda item

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer setting out the draft planning brief for Kirkgate and to receive a presentation by Officers on the document

(report attached)

  Councillor Hamilton rejoined the meeting and resumed the chair

  Plans, photographs and graphics were displayed at the meeting.  A Members site visit had taken place to the Kirkgate area earlier in the day

  The Panel considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer on the draft Kirkgate Planning, Restoration and Regeneration Statement, a copy of which was appended to the report

  Officers presented the Statement and informed Members that proposals for this strategically crucial point within the City Centre had been debated for many years and that a strategy had been drawn up to guide future development in an appropriate manner and to try and obtain Heritage Lottery funding for the area

  The main objectives of the document were:

·  conservation and restoration of the First White Cloth Hall

·  the refurbishment of Kirkgate

·  some enabling development at the rear

Permeability would be enhanced through the opening up of Crown

Court and Pine Court

  Regarding future development, the Council’s Conservation Officer stated that it was important that an even and uncluttered horizon was maintained and that if new development was allowed up to the ridge line of Waterloo House, this would not impact on views

  Whilst on site, a picture of Louis Grimshaw’s painting of Kirkgate was shown and Members were informed that the intention of the Draft Kirkgate Planning Statement was to bring back some of the charm to this area as depicted in the painting

  Officers explained that the draft Statement had been consulted upon and bringing it before Plans Panel City Centre was the final part of that process, with a view to the final version being adopted by Planning Board as a material consideration for Development Control purposes

  Regarding the application for Heritage Lottery funding, Members were informed that this could be provided for repairs and public realm, but demolition /reconstruction could not be grant aided, which would mean that the rebuilding of the First White Cloth Hall would have to be funded by a developer

  Members commented on the following matters:

·  that the properties used to be imposing terraces and the possibility of converting these back to family housing

·  that many of the rooms would be small and whilst these properties could be converted to homes for single people, they may not be suitable for families

·  support for the document but concerns at the demolition of the oversailing section of building at Pine Court

·  that Highways Officers should examine the vehicular access arrangements and find a way to provide the necessary servicing without demolishing Pine Court and that the arch at Pine Court should be retained in some form

·  that a service access used to exist through Chancellor’s Court and that this should be considered

·  that the retail units should be retained as small, individual shops rather than having one large retailer dominating the street

·  the economic viability of small units and whether these could be sustained

·  the improvements which had been made to the opposite side of the street and the new businesses this had attracted

·  the need for the area to be enhanced, but that this must be done sympathetically and the character of the street should be retained

·  the acceptance of the need for enabling development and that the proposed height ie level with the ridge line of Waterloo House was acceptable

·  whether the varying roof heights which currently existed could be aligned, with different views on this being put forward

·  that Kirkgate was a Gateway site and the possibility of obtaining other sources of funding because of this

·  that the retail area was not as vibrant as it could be and the possibility of changing the nature of the area, through its development which could lead to consideration of different uses

·  that the nearby Corn Exchange was attracting new retailers and helping to revitalise the area, which the regeneration of Kirkgate would expand, however concerns existed as to whether the vision for the area would be achieved

·  that a presentation relating to the refurbishment of the First White Cloth Hall had been made to Panel some years ago but had not resulted in an application coming forward and concerns whether the majority landowner would be able to develop the site

·  the proximity of the Eastgate and Harewood Quarter to Kirkgate and the possibility of that development acting as a catalyst for the redevelopment of Kirkgate

·  the importance of these schemes to promote Leeds and attract people to the city as the recession ended

Officers provided the following responses

·  regarding use, Kirkgate was part of the Prime Shopping Quarter and a secondary frontage so at least 50% of the street had to be retail use in accordance with policy.  However there was the opportunity for alternative uses to be considered and if there were issues around viability and developer interest, these matters would be brought to Panel for consideration

·  regarding Pine Court, the issues raised would need further consideration when applications for development began to come forward, however the Panel’s Highway’s representative stated that a two way route on Crown Street could be problematic due to the limited width available to provide turning

·  that the fabric of Pine Court was not known and that as the First White Cloth Hall would need reconstruction, then a similar approach might be possible to Pine Court

The Head of Planning Services who as in attendance, acknowledged

the comments of Members regarding the different economic landscape which now existed, but stated that the possibility of Heritage Lottery funding being made available to commence some restoration work could help bring forward the development of this historic area

Members were informed that all the comments made throughout the

consultation period would be taken into account and a final version of the Statement would be presented to Planning Board, with a report on progress being submitted to Panel next year once the outcome of the Lottery bid was known

  RESOLVED -  To note the report, the presentation and the comments now made