Agenda item

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on demolition of the existing south stand and supporters club and erection of a replacement covered spectator terrace with associated facilities for food and drink concessions, stores, car parking and turnstiles at Headingley Carnegie Stadium,

(report attached)

  Further to minute 15 of the Plans Panel West meeting held on 21^st July 2011 where Panel considered a position statement for the redevelopment of the south stand and supporters club at Headingley Carnegie Stadium, the Panel considered the formal application

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

  Officers presented the report and stated that in response to concerns by Panel, a noise survey had been carried out which had been considered by the Environmental Protection Team who were of the view that the proposals would not lead to increased noise and could lead to an improvement in the current situation due to the design of the proposed stand.  On this matter, Officers requested that condition No 20 in the submitted report relating to a sound insulation scheme should be deleted as this was not an appropriate condition for an open-air venue

  A recent visit to the stadium to see how it functioned on match days had been made by Officers who reported that the gates opened 3 hours prior to kick-off, with entertainment being provided before the match and a gradual build up of spectators during that time.  There had been no visible congestion outside the ground or around the turnstiles.  The provision of a match day traffic and parking management plan would be conditioned and would include the requirement for closing the bridge on St Michael’s Lane 30 minutes before and after kick off to address safety concerns.  The possibility of providing shuttle buses to and from the stadium would also be addressed in the traffic management plan

  Officers reported the receipt of two further letters of objection, one which raised new issues in respect of sustainable solutions

  The Panel heard representations from the applicant’s agent and two objectors who attended the meeting

  Members commented on the following matters:

·  the public consultation which had been carried out, with concerns being raised that the scheme submitted for approval was higher than that consulted upon

·  the height of the stand, particularly the roof height; the justification for this and whether an engineering solution could be considered to address the legal requirements linked with stadiums and the desire to provide all spectators with a good view of the pitch

·  that the location of the stadium, adjoining housing, meant that a balanced approach was needed taking into account the impact on residents as well as the needs of spectators

·  that whilst people would arrive at the stadium over a long period of time, they would leave together and that the additional capacity had to be catered for in terms of highways

·  the need for residents to be fully informed when the bridge on St Michael’s Lane was to be closed

·  the level of seating for provision for people with disabilities

·  that the orientation of the speakers on the stadium were towards the nearby houses and that this should be reconsidered

Members considered how to proceed

RESOLVED -  That the application be approved subject to the

conditions set out in the submitted report and subject to the deletion of condition No 20

  (Under Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor Leadley required it to be recorded that he voted against the matter)