Things have picked up this month from the post-Christmas slow down in January with some bigger planning applications coming through…
More padel & more sports…
Prince Philip Playing Fields, Chapel Town
We looked over a handful of sports-related planning applications this month. The first came from the Chapel Town Youth Development Centre. The application proposes a new all-weather pitch on the existing grass playing fields just in front of the centre, adjacent to Sugarwell Hill Park. Overall, the planning committee were in strong support of this application. This increases all-weather provision in Leeds, of which there is a shortage and the pitch would allow sports to be played on the field all year round. The wider community benefit of the new pitch was also taken into consideration, particularly as the new facility would be available for use by the Leeds Physically Handicapped and Able-bodied Centre.
Sports Ground and Premises Gipsy Lane Beeston (25/07423/FU)
Another sports-related application has been submitted by Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, who are looking to build a new pavilion building. The existing dilapidated buildings will be demolished, to make way for a single pavilion building that will provide better access and improved car parking. Whilst the committee agreed with the principle of the application – and understand that a new club house is needed – there were concerns around overall accessibility. Members felt that the application did not fully consider all accessibility improvements, like a lack of detail around routes to accessing ramps. It was agreed that a letter of comment would be submitted expressing these concerns.
The Roundhouse (25/06698/LI)
The building was originally built in 1847 for the Leeds and Thirsk Railway Company and was used as a turntable for railway engines. Now almost 180 years later, the building is set to become a padel centre; with one indoor court within the Roundhouse and nine outdoor courts on the surrounding land adjacent to the building. The committee welcomed the reuse of the building and the nearby underused land. A letter of support was submitted.
Otley schemes
Access Road To the Rear of North Drive Otley – Warehouses (26/00176/FU)
Two applications in Otley were considered this month. The first was for the demolition of old warehouses on North Drive. These are of poor quality, and the proposed plans are to replace them with single warehouse. Overall, the committee saw no issue with these plans and felt the new building would be an improvement from what is already there.
Wrvs Old Council Offices North Parade Otley (26/00796/FU)
A second application not far from the warehouses considered the reuse of former council offices on North Parade. This building has been vacant for 17 years and the proposed plans are to create seven individual dwellings, with new garden spaces to the rear and parking. Whilst the committee were pleased that the plans propose to put the building back into use, they also felt the level of detail within the application was poor, with little information on the history of the building. An additional concern was the proposed elevations, which showed drastic changes to the façade of the building, minimising historic features. Taking these points into account, an objection was agreed upon.
New Office Space
St Davids Court (26/00608/FU)
The biggest application the planning committee looked at this February was for St Davids Court, which is proposing an eight-storey, Grade-A office building just off Water Lane. The existing buildings, built in 1997, will be demolished to make way for the much larger development. The architects for the development, Studio S2, joined us in December 2025 to take us through the plans. The planning committee were generally in favour of the proposed plans back in December, but did put forward some concerns; that the two storey cap on top of the building could be reconsidered so it fits more coherently with the rest of the building, that free circulation for pedestrians through publicly accessible spaces within the building at ground floor be considered and that the Design and Access Statement considers the impact of the building on the Conservation Area. After looking at the application, it was felt that none of the comments put forward by the committee had been considered and consequently an objection was merited.
Transport
At our Transport & Liveable Leeds meeting this month, our main point of discussion was around changes the government has or will be making to both pavement parking and road safety. The former are changes whereby the government will pass on powers to local authorities to combat pavement parking in their areas of concern. Whilst this may seem beneficial on paper, what was discussed at our meeting was the logistics of this. For instance, how would a ban on pavement parking in Leeds be enforced, and how would that enforcement be funded. The government has also launched five new consultations on road safety (Road safety strategy – GOV.UK) which we hope to respond to.
The main point of discussion was regarding a small working group we have put together related to bus franchising. With this group, we are aiming to think ahead and consider what the bus system should look like post 2028, addressing the gaps that franchising may miss when it comes to fruition. We are hoping to gather external stakeholders that are knowledgeable about public transit or buses and hear from them, perhaps in the format of a workshop to gather valuable insight and thoughts. Click here to read our report, ‘An Excellent Franchised Bus Service for Leeds’
