A proposed housing development on the site of a former Leeds school has been described as “boring” at a Leeds City Council planning meeting, writes Richard Beecham.
Plans to build 59 homes, along with public open space, on the former site of Wortley High School in Swallow Crescent went before members of the council’s south and west plans panel.
But panel members complained that the plans, for mainly redbrick housing, were ‘boring’, and that more work was needed on them.
Coun Colin Campbell (Lib Dem) said:
“As far as the principle of development is concerned, what else [apart from housing] could you use the site for, other than putting another school on it?
“But we have a preponderance of red brick. I do wish developers would do a bit more.
“In five years time, you are going to look at this and think ‘this is boring’. We need to do better than these, they are just not good enough.”
Applicants Keepmoat Homes submitted plans for five two-bedroom, 42 three-bedroom and 12 four-bedroom houses on the site.
The plans state the properties would be between two and three storeys in height, constructed of brick and could include canopies above the front doors.
Responding to Coun Campbell, Coun Caroline Gruen (Lab), who was chairing the meeting, said:
“I agree with you. Elected members will soon become more involved with design. We need to work with developers to make sure they can improve on the quality of the design.
“We have a long long way to go with design in general.”
Developers Keepmoat, who originally withdrew the plans from the Christmas plans panel meeting due to concerns about escalating costs, have proposed eight of the units would be affordable homes. But council planning chiefs want to see nine affordable homes on the site.
A total of 22 letters of objection were submitted by members of the public, some of which said very few houses on nearby Swallow Crescent had any off-street parking.
Others complained of the increased traffic such a development would bring to the area.
A decision on the site was deferred for a future meeting.
The proposals do not affect the Wortley Boys pitches on other parts of the site.
_______________
While you’re here…
Producing your daily dose of West Leeds Dispatch comes at a cost!
There’s the hosting of the website you’re reading now, running our popular e-mail newsletter, membership of independent press regulator Impress, attending summer events, paying for equipment etc etc.
We need at least £200 a month just to break even – that’s money currently coming out of the pockets of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about what’s happening in our communities, connecting you with local groups and organisations as well as holding decision-makers to account and championing local issues.
And all that’s BEFORE we even think about paying something for people’s time – for instance, our editor puts in more than 24 hours a week in his ‘spare’ time to ensure The Dispatch publishes daily.
To put it bluntly, after nearly four years of daily publishing, we are not sustainable!
And we need YOUR help to continue …
For the cost of less than a couple of cups of coffee you can help support local community news and continue to give our communities a voice by taking out a subscription for just £4 per month (that’s just a pound a week).
As a thanks you’ll get your name on a roll of honour on our website. More importantly you will be enabling us to keep bringing you the news that matters about your neighbourhood.
Achieving a bedrock of supporters will give us a firm financial footing and help us plan for the future.
Supporting us couldn’t be easier…
Just follow this link.
or set up a standing order with your bank:
Contact us on Paywestleedsdispatch@gmail.com if you’d like to do this.
Over to you …