On Thursday (12 December 2013) the Council’s City Plans Panel will be considering one of the most important planning applications* which affects south Leeds for some years.
Land Securities – the owners of the White Rose Shopping Centre (WRSC) -want to expand it by providing new and enlarged shops and a cinema and to provide staff car parking on an adjacent site. In planning terms there are two significant issues. The first is that the development is in the green belt, which means that if the Council approve the application in principle it will be referred to central government to see if the relevant Secretary of State wishes to intervene. The second is that planning policy is to protect city centre and similar shopping centres and to avoid them being adversely affected by ‘out of town’ centres so the expansion of this development is not in line with current policy.
If implemented the proposals would mean extensions to the existing Debenhams and Primark stores and a new cinema with up to 12 screens and around 1920 seats. It is estimated that around 1,000 jobs would be created (600 full time equivalents) and 195 full time (although obviously temporary) construction jobs.
The response to the proposals has been mixed. Locally there has generally been support, provided the jobs that are provided are available for local people. Morley Town Council and Bradford, Kirklees and Wakefield councils have expressed concerns because of the potential adverse effect on their own shopping centres. Anxieties have also been voiced that despite the provision of a staff car park, there will be no guaranteed additional parking provision as the extension will take up some of the current car parking provision. Linked to this are concerns that the additional development will both increase car journeys to the Centre and the length of stays, increasing pressure on car park space. There is a proposed transport plan, which aims to reduce the proportion of journeys to WRSC by car and increase the proportion by bus.
The report to the City Plans Panel concludes that the effect of the development on other shopping centres is likely to be limited and not sufficiently adverse to recommend refusing permission for the scheme. The report indicates that the traffic impacts of the development are difficult to quantify and for this reason, in addition to the proposed traffic plan, the developer will contribute £400,000 to a Travel Plan Contingency Fund. This is in addition to a sum of £672,510 as a public transport infrastructure contribution.
According to a recent survey 68% of WRSC employees live in the five nearest postcode areas. The Employment Strategy for the proposed development sets a target for the Centre to employ at least 40% of new employees from six wards (Ardsley and Robin Hood, Beeston and Holbeck, City and Hunslet, Middleton Park, Morley North and Morley South) and 70% from within Leeds.
So what do you think? Is the proposed development to be welcomed? What are the concerns for local residents? What are the potential benefits? How can we make sure the benefits outweigh the disadvantages?
* Actually two applications but they are linked.
Absolutely. While I may not have agreed with the original construction of the WR that moment has passed. Large shopping developments are the future esp. when you add in the leisure and food angle. Many people from South Leeds May travel to J27, it’s much better to have these facilities closer to our doorstep. Hope it gets the go ahead.