Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding an application for the change of use and alterations of former council building to form eight flats with parking.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented applications for the change of use and alteration of a former council building to form eight flats with parking at Micklefield House, New Road Side, Rawdon.

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

The following was highlighted:

·  The building was previously used for office accommodation.

·  All the apartments would be two bed apart from one three bed.

·  The building was surrounded by parkland and parking to the front.

·  The flat roofed part of the building would be extended with an additional floor on top.

·  The ramp to the front of the building would be removed.

·  Changes to windows and doorways.

·  The UPVC porched area would be removed.

·  The stained glass window would be restored as part of the scheme.

·  There would be 16 parking spaces in total for the 8 apartments.

·  CGI images of the proposed extension was shown.  Materials were still to be decided.

·  Some internal changes to the building were still to be decided.

·  Residential conversion of the building was the only viable option and would secure the long term future of the building.

·  All the parking spaces would be served by electric charging points and there would also be cycle storage.

·  There would be a number of additional conditions including attic layout, revised roof plans and samples of stones to be used for infill.  It was proposed to amend the recommendation to defer and delegate for further negotiation on the conditions.

An objector to the application addressed the Panel.  The following was highlighted:

·  The adjacent stables had been redeveloped without extension.

·  The re-purposing of Micklefield House was supported.  The primary objection was the addition of a second floor to the existing extension.

·  There had not been any letters of support for the application and objections had come from Leeds Civic Trust, Airebrough Neighbourhood Forum, Rawdon Parish Council and the Victorian Society.

·  The proposed extension would overlook a children’s play area and be damaging to amenity.

·  The proposed extension would contravene the emerging neighbourhood plan and would not be compliant with policy and guidelines.

·  It was urged that the application be deferred for negotiation to remove the proposed extension.

·  The proposals would be damaging to the conservation area.

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

·  More weight could be given to an emerging Neighbourhood Plan following the carrying out of a referendum.

·  The application had been referred to Panel at the request of a Ward Councillor.

·  The proposed extension would not be dominant.  There was a need for further discussion with the applicant particular in relation to materials.

·  The proposed extension was not in keeping with the rest of the building.

·  It was suggested that the application be deferred for further discussion regarding materials.

·  The extension did not need to replicate the existing building.

·  The proposed extension needed making softer and could be improved.

·  Members queried whether there was a need for an additional room/extension.

In summary it was felt that Members were accepting of some form of extension.  It was suggested that the application be deferred to discuss the design and materials in further detail.  The applicant had submitted some better images of the proposals which had not formed part of the presentation.

A subsequent motion f0or deferral was moved and seconded and voted on.

RESOLVED – That the applications be deferred for further discussion with regard to the design and materials for the first floor extension and to provide more detail on the conditions.