There have been lots of interesting applications for our volunteer Planning Committee to review this month!
37 – 39 Vicar Lane (26/04023/ADV)
During our first meeting of the month, we looked at another application for a proposed 24-hour gambling unit on Vicar Lane. The Planning Committee agreed on a ‘no comment’ for the previous application, which was for the change of use for the unit. However, it was felt that the second application for a fascia sign and internal window graphics was one we should object to. The committee felt that the proposed frontage would obscure the windows and would fail to animate the street; it would be a loss of active frontage within the city centre.
Micklefield House, Rawdon (26/01800/FU)
An application came through to convert the Grade II listed Micklefield House from its former use as offices to eight dwellings. Micklefield House was built in the 1600s as a private residence; by the 1930s it came under the use of the local council in Aireborough and was used as council offices up until 2018, when it was sold by Leeds City Council. It has since stood unused and has unfortunately been the target of break-ins. The application had a very thorough heritage statement, and the only ‘issue’ that was noted was the need for more landscaping and less tarmac within the car parking area. However, the application has since disappeared from the planning portal! We hope to see it reappear, so we are able to submit our comments and see the building brought back into use!
Leeds College of Building (26/04333/FU)
Leeds College of Building have submitted plans for a new ‘Construction Technology Excellence Centre‘ next to their current site in Sheepscar. This would be created in a former Vodafone data warehouse (once a warehouse for Freeserve) on Melbourne Street, just across the road from their North Street campus. The works would see the conversion of the warehouse with internal and external alterations, including landscaping to the outside. Overall, the committee was pleased with the application, particularly as it indicates Leeds’ strength in providing further education; a letter of support was therefore submitted.
Weston Parade, Otley (26/04418/DEM)
Yet another application to demolish Weston Parade in Otley was submitted in August. This is the third application the committee has viewed and again agreed to object to. Echoed in our last discussion about the plans to demolish the site, the committee agreed that this would be a loss of amenity for the local area and residents. It was agreed that an objection would be made, mainly based on the lack of clarity about what the site would be used for after being cleared. Before being able to submit our objection, the application was once again very quickly refused. However, another application has appeared (26/04873/DEM) – we will be assessing this in our early September meeting.
Other Applications We Looked at This Month…
- 11 The Headrow (26/03912/LI): The Three Legs pub will be getting a makeover, with an application for repairs to its exterior terracotta tiles and cladding. The committee felt these were very important preservation works and gave their support.
- Chapel Allerton Library (26/04222/LI): This application was for improvements to the library’s internal and external doors, as well as new tiling within the entrance lobby. The committee was happy with the works to the doors but felt more information was needed about the tiling. For instance, more investigation about what is under the tiles would be helpful before they are covered up. These considerations were noted in their letter of support for the works.
Transport News
Our Transport & Liveable Leeds group meeting was postponed until October, but here are some other transport updates:
- Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway Station is resurfacing on council agendas and is being reconsidered alongside other new stations such as White Rose and Thorpe Park. The Planning Committee decided to take the opportunity to consider the proposed plans for the station again; it was once again suggested that Horsforth Train Station could instead be used as a rail hub for the airport with an off-highway link between Horsforth and LBA. This could be an easier and more economical solution to connect the city to the airport.
- Some of our Transport & Liveable Leeds group members were fortunate enough to meet with George Payiatis this month (Policy Officer for the Mass Transit Task Force at The Urban Transport Group/ Senior Urban Designer at Create Streets) to discuss the Mass Transit Task Force, a government commissioned study to speed up the delivery of tram schemes. The meeting was very informative, and we were able to discuss the many ways in which the delivery of mass transit in the UK could be improved; something we are unfortunately all too aware of in Leeds. Leeds Civic Trust will be submitting comments to the Task Forces’ Call for Evidence.
Thanks for reading!
