Leisure and tourist hub plans up for discussion

Plans to transform a former oil depot and storage facility on the outskirts of Leeds into an eco-friendly leisure and tourist hub are set to be discussed later this week (28 September 2023).Ashcourt Group submitted a planning application to Leeds City Council last year for the Fleet Lane site in Oulton, the former Bayford oil depot.The plans include 40 eco-lodges, including one-, two- and four-bedroom properties, all built using locally sourced materials where possible.A wedding venue and conference facility would be created to cater for up to 120 guests, with about 35 weddings expected per year. The venue could also be used for conferences, local community gatherings and events.Visitors and the wider community would be able to explore the seven acres of landscaped gardens with natural pathways which connect to the surrounding environment.It has been estimated that, once operational, the development would create an estimated 55 jobs (21 full time and 34 part time roles), with further jobs created during construction.The plans will go before the South and West Plans Panel on 28 September to allow members to provide comments to inform the progression of the scheme.Views will be sought on the loss of a protected wharf site, the openness of the Green Belt, flood risk and accessibility.A planning officer’s report prepared for the meeting said: “The proposal would redevelop a vacant industrial site into a contemporary leisure destination with a wedding venue, 40 lodges and a community hub/café. Local residents have offered comments of support of the proposal which would improve the local area and also comments objecting to the development.”Overall, the principle of the development is not considered to be acceptable given the number of detailed issues with the site including but not limited to; openness of the greenbelt, protected status of the wharf and location of the site in flood zone 3.”Members are ultimately asked to consider whether they consider the development is acceptable in principle, noting that the development does not satisfy Green Belt policy, would result in the loss of a protected wharf and an employment site, has not demonstrated it would be safe from flood risk for the lifetime of the development, would cause an increase in off-site flood risk, and is locationally unsustainable.”Following positive initial community engagement in 2021, Ashcourt conducted a second, more in-depth public consultation in October 2022. This included a leaflet to the community with a freepost feedback form, a consultation website, and a public exhibition event in Oulton which was attended by around 90 residents, local stakeholders and community groups.The public consultation received 78 responses including from the public exhibition and online forms, with 76 per cent in favour, 15 per cent unsure and 9 per cent against.