Decision due on Leeds GP centre plan

As previously reported by the YEP, draft plans to create a medical centre, shops and homes in East Ardsley were presented to members of Leeds City Council’s South and West Plans Panel in February.

They were revealed 13 years after the first plan for the village – which currently has no GP surgery – was tabled in 2005, but the developer pulled out of that deal before work began.

Members of the plans panel raised concerns over the new draft proposals, when they were presented in February, which outlined plans for a medical centre, 15 homes, a retail unit and six flats on land adjacent to Fall Lane.

It was criticised for not including plans for either affordable housing or a public open space, which are requirements according the council’s own policies.

However, applicant Mr S. Cunningham has now submitted an official outline planning application.

The plans will be considered by the panel during a meeting on Thursday. A report, prepared ahead of the meeting, recommends the application for refusal.

“The Local Planning Authority considers that the proposed development is poorly designed,” the report said.

“The scale of the proposed development is not compatible with the surroundings. The layout and design provide poor natural surveillance with consequent security issues.”

It said councillors previously raised concerns in February over the housing mix, viability and design.

But, the report said the applicant made “some minor modifications to the proposed layout” in the outline plan.