Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer regarding an application for the erection of 82 affordable dwellings, two new vehicular access points, associated open space and infrastructure and ball strike netting at former Hough Side High School Site, Hough Top, Swinnow, Leeds, LS13.

Further to minute 9 of the Panel meeting held 6^th June 2024,Members considered the report of the Chief Planning Officer which presented proposals for the erection of 82 affordable dwellings, two new vehicle access points, associated open space and infrastructure and ball strike netting at former Hough Side High School, Hough Top, Swinnow, Leeds, LS13.

The report recommended to the Panel that the application be approved subject to specified conditions as per the submitted report.

Slides and photographs were presented by the Planning Officer who outlined the application and contents of representations received as detailed in the submitted report.

Additional comments received which were not available when the agenda was published were read out at the meeting. These included representations from a planning consultant, residents and/or groups which provided further information in relation to:

·  Consultation.

·  Use of materials.

·  Ecology.

·  Loss of mature trees.

·  Drainage plans being insufficient.

·  Parking issues.

·  Applicant not putting forward further changes.

·  Discrimination towards residents.

·  Late submission of information.

·  Ball strike netting concerns.

·  On-going police investigation regarding football parking.

·  Lack of site visit.

·  Impact of noise from the playing pitch.

·  Issues associated with financial viability.

·  Loss of privacy and amenity.

The planning officer explained that the applicant has confirmed they will maintain boundary treatment in perpetuity, and comment from Sport England is yet to be received. It is therefore recommended that the application be deferred and delegated for approval to the Chief Planning Officer, subject to no objection from Sport England.

The planning officer concluded by explaining all the representations received, do not relate to any new material planning considerations or issues that the Panel are not aware of.

Speaking rights were not permitted on this application due to there being no new material planning considerations.

Questions and comments from Panel Members then followed, with officers responding to the questions raised, which included the following:

·  Additional information on the proposed landscape details, in terms of their growth, the number of trees proposed and height.

·  Clarity on the weight given to written administerial statements and viability implications.

·  Clarity on the type of materials proposed.

·  Clarity on the drainage issues in the local area and the impact of the proposed development on such issues.

·  Quality of the development in terms of design.

·  Clarity on consultation that has been carried out.

·  Climate change mechanisms.

·  Clarity on the decision to not re-align the apartment block.

·  Local surroundings and the character of the area.

·  The importance of affordable housing.

·  Reassurance regarding on-going costs and maintenance.

At this point in the meeting, a motion was put forward to defer and delegate approval to the Chief Planning Officer, subject to receipt of no objections from Sport England. Further to this, an alternative motion was put forward to defer the application for further consultation to take place between the applicant, officers, elected ward members and residents. This alternative motion was moved and seconded. This motion was not carried.

The motion to defer and delegate the application to the Chief Planning Officer for approval was seconded, and it was:

RESOLVED – To defer and delegate approval to the Chief Planning Officer, subject to no objections received from Sport England.