By John Baron
Retrospective plans to transform a former school science block into 12 studios and apartments have been refused by Leeds City Council.
Planning officers rejected the retrospective application for an extension and change of use of a former Pudsey Grangefield School science block into 12 apartments/studios including new windows and associated parking and landscaping works.
A report by the council’s chief planning officer, David Feeney, concluded: “The Local Planning Authority consider the retrospective application to be wholly unacceptable as the modernist architecture of the host building has now been lost.
“This is due to significant alterations to the approved fenestration pattern, poor choice of mortar and brickwork to the approved rear extension and a poor standard of landscaping works, which cumulatively are considered to be harmful and unsympathetic to the character and appearance of the host building and the setting of the adjacent listed building.
“As such, the retrospective works completed do not preserve the character and appearance of the building, the adjacent listed building, nor the Pudsey Conservation Area.”
Planning permission for the change of use of the building, alterations and side extension was originally approved in 2020, but council planning officers feel there has been ‘unauthorised works’ to the building.
Similar retrospective plans by applicant Riana Developments Ltd were also refused by the council in January. The previous scheme was refused on the basis that the works create an ‘adverse impact upon visual amenity and the neighbouring listed building’.
Does this mean that the works carried out will have to be removed and reinstated to the former standard? Or will it just be ignored?
Probably not but if it was a private citizen who had breached there planning even a tiny bit theyd make us rectify it and fine us. You watch there will be a fire there and they will get what they want eventually with no repercussions.