Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of an application for a proposed new creative arts building for Leeds Beckett University at Portland Way and Calverley Street, Leeds 1

(Report attached)

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which sets out details of an application for a proposed new creative arts building for Leeds Beckett University at Portland Way and Calverley Street, Leeds 1.

Site photographs and plans were displayed and referred to throughout the discussion of the application.

The Chief Planning Officer together with the applicant’s representatives addressed the Panel, speaking in detail about the proposal and highlighted the following:

·  The building would be situated parallel to the recently completed student accommodation buildings 13.5m to the north-west and at a right angle to the Leeds Beckett University Portland Building 7.5m to the north east.

·   The north eastern end of the building would abut the recently opened footway linking Portland Way and the centre of the campus on the same alignment as the most recently constructed student accommodation buildings to the north-west.

·  At ground floor the south western face of the building would be set back approximately 5 metres from Calverley Street at its closest point whilst the most easterly elevation would follow the same building line established by the university’s Woodhouse Building on Portland Way.

·  The building would comprise a series of interlocking volumes situated above a part two, part three, storey basement.

·  The element of the building closest to Portland Way, the “slip block”, would rise to 5-6 storeys above ground, slightly lower than the height of the glazed hub of the Rose Bowl to the east.

·  The main body of the building would rise to 9 storeys, a similar height to the closest new student building to the west and 10m lower than the Portland Building. The south-eastern facade of this taller element would be aligned with the gable end of the Portland Building. The front 15m of this part of the building, the “Calverley Cube”, would step down to equivalent to 6 storeys, the same height as the front section of the neighbouring buildings facing Calverley Street. This part of the building, facing Calverley Street, would be cantilevered above the lower and upper ground floors.

·  The building would contain: TV studio, acoustic testing lab, two theatres, prop stores and workshops, black box studio, recording studios, fashion studios, performance studios and film studios, ensemble rooms and production offices, Social learning and café,216 seat cinema, teaching space, academic and staff offices and computer labs

In response to Members questions, the following were discussed:

·  Clarification was sought on the location of the TV studio within the complex

·  Did the building include energy efficiency measures

·  Was there satisfactory egress arrangements given the fact that there was a 216 seat cinema located within the complex

·  Would there be public use of the cinema complex

·  Would the external materials discolour over time

·  Was the rainscreen system fire resistant

·  More refinement to the landscaping scheme was required, a suggestion that hedges be incorporated within the scheme was also made

·  It was suggested that the financial obligations contained within the Section 106 Agreement appeared to be low

·  Could the new facility contribute to the wider cultural links with the city in its preparation for the European Capital of Culture 2023 Bid

In responding to the issues raised, the Chief Planning Officer together with the applicant’s representatives responded as follows: The TV studio was located within the basement of the complex, it was intended the development would achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating to ensure energy efficiency, there were no proposals for electric car charging points due to the fact there was no car parking associated with the development, there were 3 entrances/ exists locations, the existing pedestrian footway would also be widened, the cinema was primarily used as a teaching space, but it could also be used for public performances, it was suggested that the external materials may discolour over time, but not in a way that would be unattractive, it was confirmed that the anodised aluminium rainscreen panel system was made from materials that were non-combustible, replacement tree planting would be carried out with further trees being planted off site following discussions with local Ward Members, the financial obligations quoted in the Section 106 Agreement were accurate and policy compliant and an undertaking was provided that the matter of wider cultural links with the city would be raised with the University.

In offering comments, Members were supportive of the proposal suggesting it was an attractive building, a good design and would complete the Leeds Beckett University complex.

In summing up the Chair said he was delighted with the proposal, it was close to the Civic Quarter and would provide first class facilities for students and also the city.

RESOLVED – That the application be deferred and delegated to the Chief Planning Officer for approval subject to the conditions specified in Appendix 1 of the submitted report (and any others which he might consider appropriate) and following the completion of a Section 106 agreement to include the following obligations:

·  A travel plan monitoring fee of £2,750

·  Contribution of £7,500 for a Traffic Regulation Order in relation to revisions to highway arrangements on Calverley Street

·  Contribution of £3,000 towards trial membership and usage of the car club

·  Contribution of £4,800 towards off-site tree planting

·  Employment and training plan

·  Section 106 management fee of £1500

In the event of the Section 106 having not been completed within 3 months of the resolution to grant planning permission, final determination of the application shall be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer.