Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of a pre-application presentation for a new masterplan for the Leeds General Infirmary with the demolition of the former nurse’s home and other buildings and creation of a new adult and children’s services health facility building, a multi storey car parking, new access and egress points into the hospital grounds and a landscape scheme, at Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3EX.

(Report attached)

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

pre-application proposal for a new masterplan for the Leeds General Infirmary including the demolition of the former nurse’s home and other buildings and the creation of a new adult and children’s services health facility building, a multi storey car park, new access and egress points into the hospital ground and a landscape scheme at Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3EX.

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:

·  Site/ location

·  Redevelopment of a large part of the Leeds General Infirmary site

·  The setting of the site parameters and development constraints

·  Listed Buildings within the site

·  Better use of land

·  Innovation District

·  Improvements in the delivery of service

·  The construction of two new buildings, 13 and 14 storey’s in height, interconnected with links to other buildings

·  Creation of new roads, new routes throughout the site

·  New multi-storey car park

·  Façade treatment

·  Strategic Masterplan

·  Redevelopment phasing

·  Completion 2024/25

Members raised the following questions:

·  Would a traffic impact assessment been undertaken to understand the possible effect on the road network as a result of the proposed development

·  Part of the former Nurses Home appeared to be located within the City Centre Conservation Area. Would the whole of this building be demolished

·  Were there any proposals for improved public transport to the site

·  What was proposed for the existing Listed Buildings on site

·  In terms of vehicle movements to and from the site , would patients/ visitors be able to get in and out easily

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

·  The applicant confirmed that significant highway modelling had been undertaken, including all additional trips. Currently working with LCC Highways to mitigate potential issues

·  The applicant confirmed the former Nurses Home building was not formally listed and had no architectural merit. The City Centre Team Leader confirmed that this issue was addressed within the report, which accepted there would be less than substantial harm to the character of the conservation area as a result of the demolition of the former Nurses Home building but that the public benefits of the improved health facility were considered to outweigh this harm 

·  It was reported that the new car parking would create an additional 200 spaces for the site. In terms of public transport it was suggested that “City Free Bus” ran to the site and a number of other bus routes did run in close proximity to the site. Discussions with bus companies/ the Combined Authorities was also ongoing

·  It was reported that the existing Listed Buildings would be repurposed to support the Innovation District

·  The applicant suggested that expansion of critical services would be modest, the intention was to reduce volumes to the site. Drop off areas would also reduce movement around the site and it was anticipated that the multi storey car park would corral access and egress to the site.

In offering comments Members raised the following issues:

·  All Members were supportive of providing the best health facilities

·  The architectural treatment of the development needs to be visionary

·  The intention to have a design competition to realise the final design was supported and the Council should be involved in preparation of the competition brief and setting clear design parameters

·  A greater set back should be provided between the new buildings and Calverley Street

·  The design of the car park should reflect the quality of other recent examples at the Leeds University and John Lewis developments 

·  The Brotherton Wing frames Millennium Square, Members did not wish to see it disappear

·  A traffic impact assessment for the whole of the NHS owned site was required

·  Increase car park capacity if considered necessary, 24 hour access also required

·  Consideration should be given to providing improved public transport such as increased bus services to the site

·  Any proposed residential development should consider providing  accommodation for the use of hospital staff

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

·  The majority of Members were supportive of the principle of the demolitions, one Member expressed reservations about the demolition of the whole of the former Nurses Home

·  Members were supportive of the emerging scale, massing and design of the proposals and emphasised the need for a quality/ innovative/ visionary design

·  Members were supportive of the emerging landscape scheme and approach to connectivity

·  That a traffic impact assessment for the whole of the NHS owned site based on the wider masterplan proposals be addressed within the application

The Chair thanked the developers for their attendance and presentation commenting that all Members were supportive of the scheme and the benefits it would bring to the city.

RESOLVED –

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

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