Agenda item

To receive the report of the Chief Planning Officer for a pre application for the demolition of a number of buildings within the site and the construction of new pathology facility building St James Hospital Beckett Street, Burmantofts, Leeds  lLS9 7TF.

(Report attached)

The Panel received the report of the Chief Planning Officer which set out a pre-application presentation for the demolition of a number of buildings within the site and the construction of a new Pathology facility building in their place at St James University Hospital, Beckett Street, Burmantofts, Leeds.

A number of speakers attended the meeting on behalf of the developer Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Members were informed by the developer’s team of the following key points:

·  The development would be compliant with policy;

·  It would be for hospital use;

·  The proposal requires that 10 trees would be removed. Members were advised that this council had a policy that for every tree removed 3 would be planted. It was noted that this would be part of the indicative landscaping;

·  Two Ward Members Cllrs Khan and Ragan had been consulted. As part of the consultation the Ward Members had requested that the new development should use, train and employ people from the local area. The developer was in communication with colleagues in Jobs and Skills and this would request would be taken into account through partnership working;

·  These proposals form part of a  wider ‘Leedsway’ across the hospital trust sites;

·  Pathology currently is located in different buildings. This is not a patient facility but is for the diagnosis of illness and treatments through a variety of tests;

·  The development seeks to demolish two 1960’s buildings which are located in the north-eastern corner of the hospital campus. The buildings are currently vacant with the site not having large footfall this site needs regeneration;

·  The proposal is for a purpose built two storey building, plus a basement with a slight under croft, parking and landscaping;

·  There would not be large volumes of traffic to the site but there was a specific need for a drop off facility for urgent deliveries and samples;

·  The boundary wall backing to existing streets would be retained;

·  Advance work had taken place for funding purposes.

Members’ discussions included:

·  Existing car parking issues in surrounding streets associated with the hospital;

·  The construction of additional decks above existing surface level parking areas to increase parking capacity;

·  Clarification on the number of additional staff on site at any time;

·  Travel plans for staff working at the facility. Members proposed a number of options which included;

o  Staff permits

o  Park and ride

o  Shuttle bus including options for local people to use the service

·  Request for the area for staff to have natural daylight;

·  Future maintenance of trees. It was highlighted that there was a cherry tree on the site which had Velcro round it and this should be cut as it was starting to bite into the trunk of the tree

·  Feasibility of using District Heating system which it was noted does serve properties in the area

·  A green wall located on the wall to be retained close to neighbouring houses

·  Use of cladding should be of an acceptable standard

It was the view that this would be good for Leeds and the local area with the procurement of work and jobs.

The Panel were required to answer a number of questions posed within the submitted report:

7.8 Do Members support the emerging scale, massing and design of the proposals?  Do support the scale and massing. However, they were of the view that they need to see the full design and this should be brought to the Panel for consideration of reserved matters.

7.12 Do Members support the approach to parking and sustainable transport?  Members require further information as the proposals progress and noted this was to come.

7.14 Do Members support the emerging landscape scheme?   Members supported this in principle. However they put forward the suggestion of living roof, living wall and three trees to be planted for each tree removed.

RESOLVED – To note the report.