Agenda item

Further to minute 150 of the Plans Panel East meeting held on 5^th January 2012 where Panel received a position statement relating to reserved matters for a new Divisional Police Headquarters comprising offices and storage areas, custody suite, multi level car park and secure yard area, to consider a further report of the Chief Planning Officer seeking approval of the reserved matters application

(report attached)

  Further to minute 150 of the Plans Panel East meeting held on 5^th January 2012 where Panel received a position statement relating to reserved matters for a new Divisional Police Headquarters at Elland Road LS11, Members considered the formal application

  Before the application was presented, the Chair announced that Martha Hughes, who was the Case Officer for this development, would be leaving the Council to take up a new post in Trafford Council.  The Chair paid tribute to the work Martha had undertaken and along with all of the Panel, wished her well for the future

  The Chair also took this opportunity to convey best wishes to Jim Wigginton, Planning Compliance Manager, who was to retire from the Council at the end of March

  Plans, photographs and graphics were displayed at the meeting

  Officers presented the report which related to reserved matters for a PFI funded scheme for a new Police Headquarters with offices, storage areas, custody suite, multi-level car park and secure yard on the site of the former Greyhound Stadium on Elland Road.  Due to the timescales involved as part of the PFI funding process, planning permission for the development was required to be in place by April 2012

  Following Members’ concerns on the position statement regarding the level of visitor car parking being provided, a further 20 spaces would be made available in the fuel delivery area, for overspill visitor parking

  The reserved matters scheme mainly followed the principles set out at outline stage although the building had been reoriented to provide better separation from the properties on Heath Road

  The materials would comprise pre-cast stone and anodised aluminium panels, with this palette being used throughout the scheme.  In line with previous comments, an impressive, double height glazed entrance area would be provided

  Councillor Gruen declared a personal interest through being the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Housing and Regeneration as the portfolio also included responsibility for reduction of anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder

  Members commented on the following matters:

·  the need for this major development to provide apprenticeships, jobs and skills and local employment opportunities.  On this matter, the Panel’s Lead Officer stated that this would be included if it did not form part of the outline permission

·  the need for the existing police stations at Millgarth and Holbeck to be demolished as part of the plan.  The Head of Planning Services stated this could not be tied into the reserved matters approval but that Officers were aware of these issues and would take these forward

·  that the proposals for this site were welcomed as they would tidy up a site which was suffering from neglect and would provide a landmark building on a major gateway to the city

·  that the landscaping proposals were welcomed

·  that few objections to the scheme from local residents had been received and that the presence of the police was seen locally as a comfort and something to be welcomed

·  that the increased visitor car parking provision was welcomed and that the scheme would enable the existing residents-only car parking scheme on match days to be extended into Cottingley/Holbeck and the Cross Flatts area of Beeston

·  whether an Environmental Impact Assessment had been carried out in respect of Armley Gyratory, with Officers stating that a very detailed traffic assessment had been carried out

RESOLVED -  That the application be granted subject to the conditions

set out in the submitted report, with the addition of a condition regarding local employment opportunities and training if this did not form part of the conditions attached to the outline permission