Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding the conversion of retail unit into five flats witch changes to parking arrangements and elevations.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented an application and listed buildings application for the conversion of a retail unit into five flats with changes to parking arrangements and elevations at Block B, Victoria Riverside, Atkinson Street, Hunslet, LS10 1EU.

Members visited the site prior to the meeting and site plans and photographs were displayed and referred to throughout the discussion of the applications.

The following was highlighted in relation to the applications:

·  It was proposed to convert a space originally intended for retail into five flats.

·  There was car parking to the front of the building and there would be electric vehicle charging bays.

·  The layout of the flats was displayed.  There would be four one-bedroom flats and one two-bedroom flat.

·  There had been objections to the applications mainly due to the loss of a potential retail facility and the lack of provision elsewhere in the area.

·  Locations of the nearest retail outlets were shown.

·  Commercial units that had been proposed in an adjacent development had been converted into flats.

·  There was no policy requirement to retain the retail use.

·  The applications were recommended for approval.

A local resident addressed the Panel with objections to the application.  He was supported by a local Ward Councillor.  The following was discussed:

·  Residents who had bought properties had been promised a retail facility.

·  It was important to have more local shopping facilities, particularly for families with children.

·  A retail facility would provide more of a community feeling in the area.

·  The other nearest shops required a car journey as the road layout in the area was not suitable for pedestrians.

·  The proposals were opposed to addressing climate emergency concerns as people would need second cars, make short car journeys and rely on deliveries.

·  In response to questions, the following was discussed:

o  The development can’t sustain the amount of parking.

o  Hunslet centre was the nearest location for other retail outlets.  This required traversing major roads.

o  The proposals would make it necessary for residents to have cars.

o  The applicant had originally made the offer of a retail unit as part of the original planning permission.

o  It was not felt that there had been a sufficient effort to market the retail unit.

o  The applicant had advertised the change of use to flats without consulting residents.

o  The nearest food retail outlets required a car journey due to the distance and roads to be crossed.

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

·  The applicant had engaged the service of an estate agent to market the retail unit.  There had not been any firm interest over a period of two years.

·  The area for the bin store that would have been used for the retail store would no longer be used.  There would be no additional bin storage.  If arrangements proved to be inadequate it was expected that there would be increased collections.  This would be subject to a condition.  It was felt that the proposed capacity was adequate.

·  There would be internal cycle storage for the flats.

·  The retail unit could be converted to flats under permitted development.

·  There was no condition for the provision of a retail unit.

·  The decision to convert to flats could be premature when there will be further nearby residential development.

·  Concern that developments of this kind had a lack of retail facilities and lack of facilities in this neighbourhood.

·  There was no evidence to show that a retail unit would not be viable.

RESOLVED – That planning permission and listed building consent be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the report.

·  Also additional informative to advise applicants/owners of where additional waste refuses bins can be ordered from.