Revised Leeds scheme set for green light

Revised plans for the development of a residential scheme at a gateway location on the edge of Leeds city centre, which has been in the works for almost a decade, have been recommended for approval.ATC Properties is seeking permission to amend its plans for an 11-storey block on a former Charlie Browns site at the junction of Kirkstall Road and Cavendish Street. The surrounding area is characterised by a mixture of student housing, offices, and leisure uses including a casino, public house and restaurants.Outline planning consent was originally granted in 2008 for a mixed-use scheme within a U-shaped building, incorporating residential space, office accommodation and a hotel, with a bar and restaurant to the ground floor and undercroft car parking. The permission was extended in 2011, but expires next year.ATC has applied to vary this approval, removing the the office and hotel element while increasing the number of residences to 107. The property business also wants to reduce the level of affordable housing from 15 to 5 per cent.The revised scheme, which is recommended for approval, would provide 26 studio flats, 16 one-bed dwellings, 62 two-bed apartment and three three-bed flats .According to a report to be scrutinised by Leeds City Council’s planning committee next week (3 March 2016), the scheme would develop an under-utilised site at the city centre end of Kirkstall Road. As only one year remains on the outline permission in place, the site regeneration would need to start within that timescale.Detailed planning consent for a 239 bedroom student scheme is also in place for the rear part of the site, the former RSPCA buildings. Works are expected to start on this site before August by developer Ashcourt Contracts Ltd.