Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding an application at the former Wortley High School site for 59 dwellings (Use Class C3) and public open space (Partial Traffic Regulation Orders to Swallow Crescent with two parking spaces)

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented an application for 59 dwellings and public open space at land at the former Wortley High School site, Swallow Crescent, Wortley, Leeds.

The item had been deferred at the meeting held on 20 December 2018 to allow for the applicant to submit a financial viability appraisal.  Members had visited the site prior to that meeting.

Further issues highlighted in relation to the application included the following:

·  The land was owned by Leeds City Council.

·  There would be a mix of two, three and four bedroom properties including terraced, semi-detached and detached.

·  The access previously used for the school would remain as the access to the site.

·  There had been objections to the application from local Ward Councillors and residents.  These included access, highways and on street parking.

·  The site was allocated for housing in the emerging site allocation plan.

·  The scheme complied with national and local policies.

·  There had been amendments to the original scheme and now only 13 properties had parking to the front of the properties.

·  House types were displayed.

·  There would be no impact on existing residents from overlooking or overshadowing.

·  There had been no objection from Highways with regards to parking.

·  There would be a small area of on-site greenspace.

·  There would be additional parking spaces created for residents of Swallow Crescent.

·  The applicant had agreed to a commuted Greenspace sum.

·  A full viability appraisal had been reviewed by the District Valuer.  It was concluded that all sought after Section 106 contributions could be delivered with a reduced affordable housing provision to 13.5%.

·  The application was recommended for approval subject to the completion of the Section 106 agreement.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following was discussed:

·  The site had not yet been purchased by the applicant.  The viability of the development was calculated on the existing use of the land on not the purchase price of the land.

·  The provision of full affordable housing provision (15%) was preferable to the securing the sum for greenspace or the travel plan in this case.

·  Concern regarding the positioning of front doors next to each other.

·  That properties should be fitted with euro lock standard locks.

·  There was sufficient space for bin storage.

·  There is a condition for every property to have an electric charging point.  It was suggested that this be amended to all parking spaces.

·  Concern regarding the lack of information following the Council’s declaration of a climate emergency

·  The proposals were not policy compliant with regards to the reduced affordable housing and on-site greenspace.

·  Whether PV panels could be put on affordable houses.

A motion was made to defer the application.

RESOLVED - That the application be deferred for the following:

·  Renegotiation to seek provision of 9 affordable units (full policy compliance)

·  Discuss design of properties to improve quality of design

·  Seek agreement to use euro lock standard locks on all new properties

·  Revisit location of front doors shown adjacent to each other on semi-detached dwellings

·  Condition 11 – ensure requires EV charging for each parking space