Leeds pub site flats set for green light

A number of local residents and organisation battled proposals to build seven apartments on the site of the former Shoulder of Mutton pub, in Potternewton Lane, Chapel Allerton, which is now occupied by a mental health charity.

The area is used to grow vegetables for a cafe and provide activities for people with mental health issues who attend the Inkwell Art centre, which is run by Mind.

It also hosts fund-raising events for the centre, which costs £150,000 a year to run.

The Yorkshire Evening Post previously reported how service users, volunteers and local residents rallied opposition to the plans.

But during a recent meeting of Leeds City Council’s north and east plans panel councillors granted planning permission to build on the site.

A planning document to the authority revealed that even though the site was listed as a community asset last year it would have no bearing on the application. It read: “It is understood that it is not the applicant’s intention to sell the site on should he be successful in getting his planning permission but intends to develop the site himself, so again assuming the site remains on the register of Community Assets, the effect of that listing will not come into effect.

“Only if the developer decided to sell the site on would he have to give consideration to this listing and make the relevant community interests aware of his intention.

“It is concluded therefore that whilst such a valuable community asset has been lost, there is little that the planning system can do to protect it under the present circumstances.”