Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of an application which seeks the change of use of 4 retail units to a single A3 restaurant unit (including substantial facade restoration), the creation of a new circulation atrium to serve Opera North's Howard Assembly Room and supplementary internal alterations, the refurbishment of the existing Premier House office building, including facade re-modelling and the introduction of a new Education Suite at ground floor level, an associated linkage to, and two-storey extension of, the adjacent Linacre / Harewood studio within Premier House, at Opera North, the Grand Theatre, 46 New Briggate, Leeds,

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(Report attached)

With reference to the meetings of 29^th March 2018 when Members received a pre-application presentation in respect of this site.

The Chief Planning Officer now submitted a report which set out details of an application which sought the change of use of 4 retail units to a single A3 restaurant unit (including substantial facade restoration), the creation of a new circulation atrium to serve Opera North's Howard Assembly Room and supplementary internal alterations, the refurbishment of the existing Premier House office building, including facade re-modelling and the introduction of a new Education Suite at ground floor level, an associated linkage to, and two-storey extension of, the adjacent Linacre / Harewood studio within Premier House, at Opera North, the Grand Theatre, 46 New Briggate, Leeds,

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

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

·  The proposed development seeks a change of use of the ground floor vacant former shop units from A1 retail units to one combined A3 restaurant, with internal alterations to the basement, ground floor and upper floors in the Howard Assembly Room of Opera North and an external terrace to the rear of the former shop units. In addition the proposal also involves an office refurbishment including facade remodelling and two storey rehearsal studio extension to roof of existing 5 storey Premier House building, and the provision of ground floor education suite.

·  The principle changes for the Howard Assembly Room would result in the reconfiguration of the existing ground floor entrance lobby to Opera North’s areas, such that new routes would be created inside the lobby area leading to the Assembly Room above as well as directly to the restaurant. In addition a new platform lift would be inserted into the lobby area. The proposals would also involve the reconfiguration of some internal first floor rooms including the removal of an existing storage room to create a new anti-space for patrons to utilise. The existing male artist WCs will be repositioned at stage level to allow the removed storage area to be relocated backstage. In addition a new disabled WC and a grand piano storage area would be created at first floor level. A new internal feature door is proposed at the existing main entrance within the building between Grand Theatre and Howard Assembly Room. This will involve the removal of an area of existing historic encaustic tiles in the interior of the existing entrance lobby. These removed tiles are to be retained and reused in a different location at the site.

·  The basement and ground floor to the former retail units within the Grade II* Listed Opera North building would also be altered, with the removal of internal walls and a section of flooring to create a new restaurant with partitioning for WCs, a cloakroom and a dumb waiter.

  Externally the shopfronts to New Briggate would be reordered to create   a series of large glazed windows. Some of which may double as   openable doors, and all will be set in reinstated stone pilasters and red   brick arches to echo the original façade of the building. The existing art   deco stained glass panels above the current shopfronts is to be   removed for these proposals. These are to be retained and reused as a   feature within the scheme in a different area of the site.

·  It is also proposed to create an attractive, useable glass roofed atrium terrace space in the existing rear service yard, where the restaurant and its bar can spill out onto. This space would also connect through to the Assembly Room and Grand Theatre to allow the patrons of these two venues to use the break out areas. Rising through this atrium to meet the roof it is proposed to site a sculptural metal tree like feature which would address extract ducting requirements for the new restaurant use. Perforated metal cladding will be installed to sit in front of the most damaged areas of the southern service yard wall, to hide poor brickwork and existing retained pipework and extract plant

·  The proposals for Premier House would involve a refurbishment of the building, including a recladding of the facades and a two storey rehearsal studio extension to the roof of existing 5 storey building, with a mixture of punched and projecting windows. In addition the proposal would create a ground floor education suite. The new cladding would be a high quality bronze rain screen panelling facing the main Harrison Street and rear service yard façades, with the upper areas of the new extension being brick to match the existing brickwork below. The proposal to introduce an education suite at ground floor level will allow the introduction of a significant area of new clear glazed windows facing Harrison Street

Members raised the following questions:

·  The larger of the two bridges on Harrison Street (the scenery bridge) looks tired and cluttered. Could this area be refreshed as part of the scheme

·  Could the exposed brickwork to the atrium wall be retained

·  The cladding materials to be used, would these be in accordance with the latest fire safety standards

·  Were there any plans for the pedestrianisation of New Briggate

·  The windows to the atrium wall, could they be restored and cleaned

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

·  Members were informed the scenery bridge was in the ownership of the Grand Theatre and was not part of the proposed scheme

·  The Architect representing the applicant reported that the brickwork to the Victorian Façade was of a poor standard and if retained would reveal a lot of clutter. The use of cladding would provide an opportunity for the use of absorbent acoustic panels

·  The Central Area Team Leader confirmed that fire safety measures would be addressed thorough Building Control.

·  New Briggate was a major entertainment district, it was understood a report was currently been prepared for Executive Board on future proposals for the area. The Chief Planning Officer reported that a Townscape Heritage Bid had recently been rejected for the New Brigate area, the bid was currently being redrafted with a view to resubmission.

·  The applicant confirmed that all the windows for the atrium would be replaced as part of the scheme

In offering comments Members raised the following issues:

·  Members welcomed the application and were supportive of the proposals

In summing up the Chair thanked all parties for their attendance and contributions suggesting that the restoration works would further enhance the Leeds Grand Theatre and be a great asset to the city.

RESOLVED –

(i)  That Application No. 18/02735/FU be deferred and delegated to the Chief Planning Officer for approval subject to the conditions set out in Appendix No. 1 of the submitted report (and any others which he might consider appropriate)

(ii)  That Application No. 18/02736/LI be deferred and delegated to the Chief Planning Officer for approval subject to the conditions set out in Appendix No. 1 of the submitted report (and any others which he might consider appropriate)