I am afraid that you have me back to summarise what has been considered by the Trust’s Planning Committee in the last month – thanks to Alanah for taking on the job!
PRESENTATIONS
We received no presentation this month, but there are quite a few lined up for April and May, including residential development proposals in Marsh Lane, at Westgate and on Meadow Lane at Bridge End, and also potentially a presentation on the Microsoft Data Centre at Skelton Grange.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS REVIEWED
St James’s Hospital Chapel (26/01413)
Built in 1858-1861 by architects William Perkin and Elisha Backhouse, the Listed Chapel seems to have suffered from a lack of maintenance in recent years, necessitating the extensive repairs set out in this application. This is detailed and comprehensive, with condition reports that have helpful photographs and clear diagrams. Good Design & Access and Heritage Statements are provided and we offered our support for the necessary repairs to an important heritage building.
32-33 Kirkgate (26/00997)
We have recently reviewed a number of shopfront applications, but have concerns that these are being driven by corporate styling rather than responding to the building upon which they are to be displayed. One example is this scheme in Kirkgate, where we support the reuse of a vacant unit, but feel that the company name is too large and, on the drawings supplied, it is difficult to see how this sits within the restored shopfront over the amended door position.
Other Applications
We commented on one other application, for the construction of two 5-bedroom homes on the site of the disused Lovell Park Hub off North Street near Sheepscar. While not offering a view on the scheme itself, we felt the site layout was dominated by tarmac, with the frontage probably able to accommodate over a dozen cars (plus two in the garage). Better landscaping should be provided.
This month we did not object to any of the applications we reviewed and made no comment on the other eight schemes we discussed. One of these schemes was intended to resolve the issue of installing black vinyl on windows at Flannels in Briggate – this approach transforms the appearance of the building through a loss of reflectivity. This view was supported by the inspector who dismissed the company’s appeal against Leeds City Council’s refusal of consent.
UPDATES ON SCHEMES PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED
Leeds City Council has, for the third time, refused consent for a new McDonalds drive-through on the A64 at Seacroft, notwithstanding significant redesign. Reasons are proximity to schools, traffic safety, poor pedestrian access, unsatisfactory servicing arrangements and loss of trees.
You will have seen the many cranes which reach into the sky over Leeds: two further schemes which have started are offices at Wellington Plaza (corner of Northern Street) and the former Bank of England building in King Street. In May, work will start on a new hotel on the site of the Leeds International Swimming Pool.
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT NEWS
The Trust has been engaged in responding and contributing to a series of strategies being developed by Leeds City Council, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Westminster. Following on the heels of the refreshed Leeds Ambitions, the new Council Plan and its Economic Vision, Leeds City Council is pushing forward with several significant programmes including the Leeds City Fund (which will allow Leeds to retain 100% business rates growth for 25 years), the Royal Armouries Tiltyard (a new conference/event space), Elland Road Stadium expansion and regeneration, Temple Works in Holbeck (a potential new site for British Library North) and the recently confirmed New Town in South Bank. The last will be delivered through a Mayoral Development Zone which will also pick up regeneration projects around the city centre. More details can be found here: Leeds landmark year for delivery.
A key aspiration in the city is to deliver 1,500 new affordable homes each year – Leeds is the most successful of the Core Cities in the UK in providing new dwellings.
Visitors to the city centre are down slightly from 2025 but Leeds is beating the national trend, with the station being ever busier. There are fewer vacant shop units and city centre shopping should be safer by a proposed ban on cycling/scooting in the pedestrian precincts & controls on street peddlers.
Following the March edition of Outlook’s sports focus, another ParkLife Football Centre has been approved. This will see artificial turf pitches and a pavilion (with café and medical centre) constructed on the site of the former Matthew Murray School in Holbeck. This will join other projects at Thorpe Park, Lawnswood and Woodhall (between Leeds & Bradford) to provide high-quality sports pitches for the many teams which must today play (or often not play) on muddy grass fields.
TRANSPORT NEWS
We are reviewing the way our Transport & Liveable Leeds group could operate in the future, with a suggestion that greater emphasis should be placed on ‘task and finish’ projects which would deliver focused reports on subjects of interest. We have done this to some extent with our responses to the proposed Mass Rapid Transit network for West Yorkshire, where we have engaged successfully with WYCA and, we hope, made a positive contribution to the developing plans. We were obviously sorry to see the further delays imposed by the need to follow government rules, but we will help where we can to push though the various ‘gateways’ though which schemes must pass. The next step will be the Strategic Outline Case, which will be issued for consultation in Summer 2026.
A group has started work on how the city could create a better bus network to integrate with mass rapid transit/rail routes and offer a wider range of journey opportunities. With integrated ticketing and frequent services, changing mode en route is less of an issue (as in London, no need to look at a timetable). Should you wish to get involved in this or similar work, please contact the Leeds Civic Trust office.
Mike Piet – Chair of Planning Committee
Back to Alanah next month!
