By John Baron
Plans to transform the former HSBC bank building in Pudsey into a retail unit and flats have been revised following concerns by councillors, residents and planning chiefs.
The former HSBC Bank, at the corner of Church Lane and Robin Lane, has been empty since it closed its doors in October 2020. A number of planning applications – including for apartments and a coffee shop – have been submitted since then.
Plans submitted in June by Mohammed Abbas, of Otley Old Road, proposed that the ground floor former bank transformed into a retail unit, with five additional one-bedroom flats to the ground and first floors.
These have since been scaled back, with the ground floor flats being removed and two offices being retained, with two flats to the first floor.
Councillor Simon Seary (Cons, Pudsey) said: “I’ve been working with the local planning officer following the recent planning application for the former HSBC. I’m pleased to see that significant changes have been made and [I’m] hopeful this will be approved and an empty building in the town centre will come to life again.”
A council planning officer’s e-mail shared by Cllr Seary on social media said: “The former bank floor area remains proposed for retail. This is wholly acceptable in policy terms, and as previously discussed the LPA can not control the end user eg, a grocery store etc.
“The first floor would accommodate two proposed flats. Again, this policy compliant where residential is acceptable in principle above ground floors within designated centres.
“The second-floor flats are existing and there is no change proposed here.
“Some softening to the front of the site with seating and planting and the bin store re-located to the side of a later and non-historic side extension. They have also proposed an additional tree to the rear of the building.
“In terms of the flats, at first floor there is already a fall-back for the creation of a flat through permitted development rights (PDR) approved under 23/05837/DPD per the below floor-plan. There would, in real terms, only be the addition of one flat as the first floor can already be converted by virtue of PDR.
Original plans said the proposed retail unit would open seven days a week, 7am to 11pm.
- The plans can be viewed in full here.
- Follow WLD‘s coverage of the building’s future here.
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This is good news for the residents of the flats. Unlike some commentators on here, I looked at the original plans and saw that having two ground floor flats at the street level of pollution and noise was terrible for the occupants. First floor flats are much better.,
I have lots of memories of pudsey. And lived in Leeds 13. For the last 76yrs. Dancing in pudsey baths. Was brilliant. But pudsey has gone down. The nick. Having another coffee shop is not going to bring trade in or flats in the center. There is no decent shops you won’t let bigger company’s in. And there should be a statue of pudsey bear in the center wake up. And get a gripp.