Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding a pre-application presentation for an office development with associated facilities, car parking and landscaping.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer presented a pre-application enquiry for an office development with associated facilities, parking and landscaping at Latitude Yellow, land at the former Doncaster Monk Bridge Works, Whitehall Road, Leeds.

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

The applicant’s representatives were invited to address the Panel. Issues highlighted included the following:

·  The applicant showed examples of other schemes that they had delivered across the country.

·  The site currently had a planning approval for an office development but the applicant felt that was no longer appropriate particularly in terms of sustainability and following the Council’s climate emergency commitment.

·  It was hoped that the new scheme would be one of the most, if not most, sustainable schemes in Leeds.  To achieve this, amendments since the previous application included the removal of the proposal for a basement and to have fewer lifts in the building. Sustainability would not only be increased by reduced operational energy but also with increased biodiversity.  There would be garden spaces, green walls and a roof terrace.

·  Sustainable travel would be promoted with integration to the cycle network and cycle facilities.

·  There would be a gym and fitness centre as well as an event space to promote health and wellbeing.

·  The site was the last part of the wider Latitude masterplan to be delivered.

·  Connectivity through the site and wider area.

·  The building would be ground floor plus eleven storeys in height. The previous consent was ten storeys.

·  There had been positive feedback from community consultation that had been undertaken. This had included Leeds Civic Trust and local neighbours.

·  Inspiration had been taken from the industrial heritage of the site.

·  There would be hard and soft landscaping around the building.  Detailed landscaping images were shown.

·  There would be limited parking to the undercroft.

·  The ground floor would include a café, co-working spaces and cycle storage.

·  There would be a gym and fitness suite on the first floor.

·  Upper floors would be mainly dedicated to office space.

·  There would be external communal space on the roof terrace.

·  CGI images of the proposed building were displayed and proposed use of materials was explained.

In response to questions and comments from the Panel, discussion included the following:

·  There would be dedicated cycle and pedestrian routes through the site.

·  There had been some widening of the highway for cycle provision. Further development of the highway and cycle/pedestrian provision was explained.

·  There had been engagement with Network Rail with regards to the boundary between the site and the railway.

·  Landscaping would include planting, green walls and open areas.

·  The area would be extensively covered by CCTV and there would be 24 hour security.

·  There would be allowances to connect to the district heating network in the future if that became possible.  It was currently proposed to use air source heat pumps and photovoltaics to power the building.

·  The cycle route would have access to the tow path.

·  It was hoped to reflect the heritage of the site with the materials to be used and any further information on the heritage of the site would be welcomed.  It was hoped to use as much recycled material as possible.

·  There would be noise assessments carried.

·  It was hoped to see some kind of recognition of the history of the site.

·  Members welcomed the proposals for the roof terrace and sustainability issues.

In response to questions outlined in the report, the following was discussed.

·  Members considered that the proposed use of the site for office with ground floor café/workspace was appropriate in principle.

·  Members supported the emerging layout, scale and design of the development.

·  Members supported the emerging public pedestrian route and landscaping around the site.

·  Members welcomed the proposals for active travel.

RESOLVED – That the report and presentation be noted.