Agenda item

Pre-application presentation of proposed pedestrian improvements to be provided at the junction of Portland Crescent and Woodhouse Lane, Leeds 2 (PREAPP/17/00489)

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officers which sets out details of a pre-application presentation of proposed pedestrian improvements to be provided at the junction of Portland Crescent and Woodhouse Lane, Leeds 2

 

(Report attached)

Minutes:

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

pre-application for proposed pedestrian improvements to be provided at the junction of Portland Crescent and Woodhouse Lane, Leeds 2.

 

Site 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 temporary pedestrian facilities, including a dropped crossing across Portland Crescent, would be removed. An area immediately north of the building would be laid out as potential spill out space from the interior of the building. Beyond this a new 5.5 metre wide footpath laid out in high quality concrete paving would link an existing dropped crossing to Cookridge Street and a new dropped crossing across Portland Crescent aligning with the existing pedestrian footway which runs along the northern periphery of the Rose Bowl surface car park. A second dropped crossing would be provided for pedestrians between the entrance to the Rose Bowl surface car park and underground car park.

 

·  The external space would be laid out to complement the new public realm presently coming forward at the junction of Woodhouse Lane / Clay Pit Lane / Cookridge Street. A strip of soft landscaping adjacent to the highway would be provided following the sweep of the site adjacent to Woodhouse Lane. The soft landscaping strip would include a total of 5 trees set within a shrub planting. A smaller planting bed would be formed, including a further two trees, alongside Cookridge Street.

 

·  The traffic island in the centre of Woodhouse Lane north of the site would be extended to impede vehicles illegally turning right into Portland Crescent from Woodhouse Lane.

 

Members raised the following questions:

 

·  What was the timescale for completion of the works, not just this site but for the whole of the Portland Crescent/ Woodhouse Lane Junction improvement scheme

·  Who would be responsible for maintenance of the area once the scheme was completed

·  Would the landscaped areas include lighting schemes

 

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

 

·  The applicant was responsible for the delivery of the scheme adjacent to the proposed student building whilst Leeds City Council were responsible for the delivery of the scheme to the other former underpass areas but final designs for the other areas of the junction were still awaited.

·  Once completed the junction would become an adopted highway and maintained by the City Council

·  Lighting schemes would be included in consultation with the City Council

 

In offering comments Members raised the following issues:

 

·  More detailed information was required for the whole of the scheme

 

In summing up the Chair said that further details about the design/ appearance of the junction were required and that a report should come back to Plans Panel in due course.

 

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 a further report be prepared and brought back to Plans Panel on the proposals for the whole of the Portland Crescent/ Woodhouse Lane Junction improvement scheme

 

 

 

Supporting documents: