Agenda item

To receive the report on a pre-application for the proposed mixed-use development at former Arcadia site, Burton Business Park, Torre Road, Burmantofts, Leeds LS9 7DN

The Area Planning Manager vacated the seat at the table for item 9. The Area Planning Manager (North East) Ryan Platten took up the seat vacated.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer set out a pre-application for a mixed -use development at the former Arcadia site, Burton Business Park, Torre Road, Burmantofts, Leeds, LS9 7DN.

The applicant’s agent presented the proposed application with slides and photographs shown throughout.

The agent highlighted the following points:

• The identified site relates to the former Burton’s site and is allocated in the SAP for mixed use of employment and residential development.
• Members were asked to consider the options for access along Trent Road and wider connectivity to the site.
• It was noted that the proposal involves retention of the main factory building façade to highlight the heritage of the site.
• Woodland within the site would be enhanced, and the developers were keen to put green space at the heart of the development layout.

Members questions and comments included:

• It was the view that this site should be appropriate for future plans for the mass transit scheme. The routes to and through the site should link into existing routes.
• The site will be dealt with as separate proposals due to the complexity and size of the site. The proposal before Members was for a mixed-use development relating to the central Burton’s building, while separate buildings that are currently occupied by tenants and designated heritage assets will be considered as part of separate proposal(s).
• It was noted that there are opportunities to be considered for older people’s properties and for social renting model. It was the proposal that the development would be multi-generational.
• The applicant had worked on the Majestic Building in the city centre and was confident that the façade of the Burton’s factory could be saved and incorporated into the design utilising a similar methodology / approach to the Majestic Building
• Trent Road is an existing industrial road with a narrow footpath. It was the proposal to bring this up to a policy compliant standard, with wider footpaths and cycle routes, with better surveillance for those using the footpaths and linking to the green space.
• The trees and hedges along Trent Road would be maintained as they had been when the site was previously operational.
• It was recognised that the number of houses proposed would impact on the schools in the area. The Panel were advised that 2 new schools had recently been constructed in the area (within the SAP allocation) and this has been taken into account in the future development of the application site.

The Panel responded to questions posed in the submitted report as follows:

1.  Members were of the view that the original percentage of proposed residential and employment be maintained across the wider site as defined in the report.

2.  Members liked the proposals for the site.

3.  There was support for the retention of the façade and the green space proposed. It was an opportunity to create something different with a unique identity.

4.  There were no comments in relation to transport and connectivity.

5.  It was the view that the cycle and footpath provision along Trent Road could be physically separate from the highway (to the other side of the trees adjacent to the existing highway) but that the footpath and cycle route should be clearly defined to avoid conflicts. It was noted that the removal of the understorey of tree canopies to facilitate greater visibility between the highway and the footway/cycle route was not a concern.

6.  There were no further matters that Members wished to raise.

RESOLVED – That the submitted report and discussions be noted.

Cllr Lloyd had left the meeting at 2:55 during this item.

The Area Planning Manager resumed his seat at the table at the conclusion of this item.