Council planners have rejected proposals to change the use of land around a warehouse in Stanningley into vehicle storage and a bus depot.
Applicant Kevin Miles had applied for retrospective permission to change the use of land at Removal House, off Stanningley Town Street, from storage/distribution to a bus depot and vehicle storage.
A council planning officer’s report said a bus depot was currently operating from the site without planning permission and the application sought to regularise the apparent breach of planning consent.
Proposals would see the existing warehouse continue to be used for vehicle storage. The outdoor yard and workshop were seeking retrospective consent to be retained as a bus depot.
There were six objections to the proposal, including Councillor Kevin Ritchie (Lab, Bramley & Stanningley) on the grounds of highway safety and harm to residential amenity.
A design statement submitted by Mr Miles said the site has been used since the 1960s as a transport and warehousing depot. Access would be via gates on Grove Street and Town Street.
But a council planning officer’s report concluded the proposals represented a ‘significant intensification of the use of the site’.
It added: “The proposed change of use would see the continued employment use of the site and the economic benefits this brings. This is a benefit given moderate weight in favour of the scheme.
“The proposal would cause harm to highway safety, this harm is given significant weight.
“The proposed development would also be harmful to residential amenity due to increased noise nuisance, air pollution, obstructive on-street parking, and increased comings and goings to the site. This is given moderate weight against the scheme.”
The plans can be viewed in full here.