Pudsey housing plan gets green light

Detailed plans for 21 houses in Pudsey have been approved today – at the second time of asking.

The site, on Hare Lane, already had outline planning approval for the principle of residential development only for up to 21 units on the site of a (former) manufacturing business.

Councillors last month had deferred a decision on the detailed application – which included access, , landscaping, scale and appearance of the development – following concerns about the ‘uninspired’ design of some of the properties.

Members of the south and west plans panel wanted more variety in the house designs and pallet of materials, in particular reducing the amount of natural stone in the development.

Developers Acrivarn Holdings and Mandale Homes North Yorkshire came back with revised plans, adding new four-bedroom homes, adding bay windows and other minor tweaks to some properties.

They have also introduced rendering to some houses to reduce the amount of stone used on the development.

The outline approval is accompanied by legal agreement requiring improvements to Hare Lane, on-site greenspace, a replacement footpath and affordable housing.

Councillors last month had also asked for more information on the maintenance of the private access road – Hare Lane.

Councillors today heard there was a legal agreement requiring improvements to Hare Lane, which is in poor condition, and also a commitment to its ongoing maintenance.

An external management company would be responsible for the management and maintenance of the lane, with housebuyers applying for membership of the management company and deciding maintenance riorities.

The meeting, at Leeds Civic Hall, heard that the council would have enforcement powers to ensure that the access lane was maintained properly.

A council report recommending approval of the plans said:

“It is considered the proposal will provide good levels of habitation in an attractive and secluded setting. The housing proposed would act to improve the quality of the area above that of the existing industrial buildings.”

Councillors unanimously approved the detailed proposals in principle.

They deferred and delegated final approval to planning officers subject to a raft of conditions, including details of electric vehicle charging points, and details on storage, loading and unloading of equipment and materials during construction.