By John Baron
Civic watchdog group Leeds Civic Trust has objected to plans to transform the former Sunfield Medical Centre into apartments.
The application is for change of use and alteration, which would turn the empty doctors’ surgery into eight apartments.
But Leeds Civic Trust’s planning committee has objected to the scheme on the grounds of overdevelopment.
A Trust spokesperson said: “The [committee] argues that the proposals squeeze too many houses/apartments and car parking spaces into a small area. There is too much tarmac and not enough landscaping. They submit that the whole plan needs a review on this basis.”
As previously reported by WLD, Leeds City Council will consider plans for the Sunfield Place site, which has been empty since the surgery merged with Hillfoot Surgery in Pudsey last year.
An architect’s report on behalf of applicant Adam Hainsworth said residential would be the best use of the site due to a lack of prospective tenants for the four-storey building in its current form.
It said: “We believe the proposal is ideally suited for the site. We are of the opinion that the proposal is the only feasible solution now the site has become vacant.
“The site is ideally suited to a conversion of this type, with good transport links, established parking and amenity space.”
The architect’s report said the current project was designed to be in keeping with its surroundings. It added: “We do not wish any development to be overpowering and dominate the site.”
You can read the full planning application and submit a comment by searching for the reference 24/03204/FU on the council’s Public Access website. The deadline to comment is Tuesday, 3 September.