We had no presentations this month and meetings moved around to accommodate holidays. However, there were lots of applications to review and, for once, more we could support than we needed to object to.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS SUPPORTED
University of Leeds Campus (26/03848)
We supported plans to install a garden area with greenhouse in what is now a largely hard-surfaced area outside the Food Sciences Building. The aim of the space is to promote learning, wellbeing, biodiversity, and community engagement, serving students, researchers, academic staff, visitors and the wider public while offering opportunities for scientific study, environmental education, social interaction and leisure activities.
Land at Ramshead Wood Centre, Seacroft (26/03729)
Although perhaps not the most glamorous scheme we reviewed, we supported LCC plans to utilise the site of a former Adult Training Centre to provide a group of small industrial units which would be let to local businesses.
Other Applications we supported
We felt we could support a number of other schemes that we reviewed:
- refurbishment of a former dwelling adjoining Home Farm at Temple Newsam – however, we felt that any new windows should reflect what would have been the pattern when built rather than a replacement of what is there now
- enhancements to the historic Bramley Baths to increase its viability
- conversion of offices to apartments at 8 The Headrow
- conversion of Moorfield House in Moortown to accommodate 27 apartments – we did have concern over the extensive car parking areas
- conversion of Cloth Hall Court in Quebec Street to a multipurpose events venue.
We made comments on a plan to carry out work adjoining the walled garden at Temple Newsam where Leeds City College is building a new animal care training centre – we have concern that works might affect the stability of the adjoining ‘heated wall’ which served the hot-houses. We also commented on plans for a new Academy at Whitkirk, suggesting that the layout adopted could be improved by not requiring students to walk through the staff car park.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS OBJECTED TO
Springfield, Little Woodhouse (26/03779)
This former medical research building has been the subject of several previous planning applications which sought to convert and extend the historic core element to provide student accommodation (PBSA). We objected to the previous plans on the basis of the scale of the extensions but, unfortunately, the project was given consent. The new application seeks to vary the number/type of accommodation units in the scheme but with no significant changes to the overall appearance. We have restated our objections but, given the previous approval, this is unlikely to have any effect – an issue might be the fact that there appears to be a surplus of PBSA in Leeds so will it get built?
Matthew Murray House, Holbeck Urban Village (26/03030)
This is an important building in the history of Leeds, being part of the Round Foundry famous for its innovative engineering in the late 18th century. Previous plans for conversion to housing were refused in 2025, with a key objection being the insertion of a door in the front elevation and substandard residential units. This new scheme does not affect the elevation but would still lead to the destruction of the former workshop space by dividing it up into separate units and adding a floor – we feel the poor Heritage Statement does not address the impact of the works on the building, which would be far better suited to office use.
Other Applications we objected to:
We objected to two other schemes that we reviewed:
- 20 Albion Street: plans for a gate across a recessed shop doorway – we felt we needed more information on colour/design
- Wharfe Ghyll, Linton: this was an attractive Arts & Crafts house which has been significantly altered but not in line with approved plans – we feel the owner should be required to restore some elements which have been destroyed.
OTHER APPLICATIONS REVIEWED
Just to give a flavour of the range of schemes we review, here are some other plans that we felt did not require a specific comment:
- a revised application for an already-approved HMO in Armley
- development at LUFC’s sites at Wetherby (new ground-staff unit) and Elland Road (fan-zone)
- new bar on Harrogate Road and offices on Cardigan Road
- enlarged travellers’ site at Tingley on land owned & used by a traveller family
- shopfront changes in the County Arcade and in Vicar Lane
- rooftop aerials at 121 Briggate
- signage linked to reopening the First White Cloth Hall as a café/bar.
UPDATES ON SCHEMES PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED
Consent has been granted for the development of padel courts inside and alongside the Roundhouse on Wellington Road but a decision could not be taken on plans for a new crematorium in Oulton as objectors had not been given enough notice of the Plans Panel meeting. New housing accessed by a swing bridge over the canal in Rodley is now under construction but plans to use Headrow House (by Dortmund Square) for co-living accommodation have fallen through and the building is to be refurbished for offices. The developers of the Yorkshire Post site are still committed to retaining the time/temperature feature in some form but a bit further up Wellington Road, revisions to a housing scheme at the Armley Road junction would see more units being built – something for us to look out for.
PLANNING AND TRANSPORT NEWS
Snippets of news garnered over the last month include the following:
- plans for the South Bank-focussed ‘Leeds New Town’ have been delayed as a result of changes at Number 10 but staff of LCC, WYCA and Homes England are already working collaboratively on the project
- LCC delivered almost 1,000 100% affordable homes (including council housing) last year and is seeking to increase this in future
- there is still no agreement with the landowner regarding the derelict shops in Kirkgate so Compulsory Purchase remains an option – although some businesses would like to see the street pedestrianised, there is pressure to restore buses to the street
- the works to Leeds Station forecourt should complete by September, at which point discussion will move onto a wider consideration of access to/from the station – work is to re-start on White Rose Station soon, with Thorpe Park following on behind
- work on rearranging cars, buses and cycles on Woodhouse Lane will probably start after Christmas
- work is starting on updating the LCC Our Spaces Strategy which sets out plans for the enhancement of the city’s streets
- enforcement action was taken against the owners of the Listed Salem Chapel on Hunslet Road for painting the stonework without required consents
- Proposals for an events/heritage use for Thwaite Mills have now fallen through with the building soon to be in the ownership of a consortium that currently operates entertainment venues in the city.
- the Trust has supported a community initiative to reopen part of the Holbeck Viaduct as a high level public park – in the long term, it could provide a safe walking route to Beeston and Elland Road
- the City Council is to review the impact of parking charges introduced in district centre – a report is due by the end of the year.
