Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of a pre-application presentation for Reserved Matters proposal for office building with ground floor retail and Café/ Restaurant units at 4 Wellington Place and Northern Street, Leeds.

(Report attached)

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which sets out details of a

pre-application proposal for Reserved Matters proposal for office building with ground floor retail and Café/ Restaurant units at 4 Wellington Place and Northern Street, Leeds.

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

The applicant’s representatives addressed the Panel, speaking in detail about the proposal and highlighted the following:

·  The proposed building occupies a triangular footprint that is within that approved at outline stage with the additional external space around the base of the building to be used as external seating, break-out space and landscaped areas for the ground floor commercial units. The building forms one side of the 2 diagonal routes which lead into the centre of Wellington Place and Tower Square, with Buildings 3 to the north and Building 5 to the south.

·  The buildings contain the following floorspace: 20,490 sqm B1 office

  914 sqm A3/A4 (retail/restaurant /bar) Basement:146 car parking   spaces – 96 below Building 4 and 50 in the area below the walkway   between Buildings 3 and 4 (incl. 5 disabled, 8 Electric Vehicle charging   spaces) 10 motorcycle and 88 cycle spaces all beneath the footprint of   the building,Shower and changing facilities

·  The glass, stone and bronze metal cladding is to be aligned vertically and topped with a continuous coping. The amount of each material would be changed subtly across the elevation to give a greater glass and bronze emphasis to Tower Square and a more stone led appearance to Northern Street. Additionally, the ground floor and top floors have been recessed to provide layering and visual interest. The roof top will also contain terraces and there are further terraces included on all floors at the point end facing towards Tower Square.

·  Two entrances to the building are proposed which would create a pedestrian route through from north to south. This means that both of the elevations on the pedestrian routes would have a main entrance which itself provides a focus and additional activity. This route through also provides the ground floor commercial uses with the opportunity to provide customer seating in order to enliven the internal space.

·  The original outline approval was for a basement which sat beneath the footprint of the building. However, the current proposal now seeks to increase the size of the basement to run under the north-eastern diagonal route and join up with the basement of Building 3 to make one combined parking area. The basements of Wellington Place will eventually be linked as part of the overall parking and vehicle strategy for the site which results in the surface being largely vehicle free. This increase in size of basement would provide approximately 50 no. additional car parking spaces.

·  The approved method of servicing this building is via a layby on the Northern St frontage. The layby is being designed with L.C.C. Highways Services as part of the Northern Street junction improvement works which are currently on site. The new building line addresses the layby as well as the widening of Northern Street.

·  The area around the base of the building will be landscaped using the same palate of high quality materials used on the overall scheme - natural products including granite and stone. Planters will be introduced to add soft landscaping and to soften the spaces. The set back of the building from Northern Street allows landscaping to be introduced on this frontage.

In response to Members questions, the following were raised:

·  Could the use of greenery be incorporated into the upper levels 

·  Clarification of the appearance of the stone material to be used was required      

In responding to the issues raised, the applicant’s representatives said:

·  It was explained that greenery could not be incorporated into the upper levels due to structural design reasons

·  The stone material would match that used on the existing buildings

In offering comments Members raised the following issues:

·  Members welcomed the proposed development

·  This was a good scheme and a quality design

In drawing the discussion to a conclusion Members provided the following feedback;

·  Members were of the view that the proposed slight shift in the footprint of the building to address the surrounding buildings and the Northern Street re-alignment was acceptable

·  Members were of the view that the reduction in floor plate, along with the use of the space created was a positive addition to the scheme

·  Members were supportive of the proposed height and design of the building.

·  That following the receipt of the Reserved Matters application and subject to no other significant issues arising, authority be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer for final determination

In summing up the Chair said Members were supportive of the proposal and welcomed the submission of the Reserved Matters application

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the details contained in the pre-application presentation

(ii)  That the developers be thanked for their attendance and presentation

(iii)  That following the receipt of the Reserved Matters application and subject to no other significant issues arising, authority be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer for final determination