Green light for £80m Mabgate Yard resi

Leeds’ city plans panel has given reserved matters approval for the 300-apartment build-to-rent scheme in one of its key regeneration areas.

At September’s city plans panel, the matter had been deferred so that committee members could hear more detail on issues around possible noise disturbance, with a scoping report subsequently produced by the application team.

The 71-73 Mabgate plot’s closeness to the grade two-listed Hope Foundry at 69 Mabgate has been an issue of contention.

The MAP (Music & Art Production) charity holds music events at the site, and has concerns that noise complaints from incoming residents could threaten the centre’s future – a problem that has arisen for venues such as Manchester’s Night & Day Cafe, going all the way to the courtroom earlier this year.

Architect for the scheme is Leeds-based Cunniff Design, with Quod advising on planning, Turley on heritage and Ares on landscape architecture.

The professional team also includes Systra, Buro Happold, Gardiner & Theobald, Curtins and ECUS.

HBD had secured an outline consent for Mabgate Yard in 2023, before forward-selling the three-building development to Cheyne  Impact Real Estate this January.

At the outset of October’s panel, on 11 October, it was described by officers how a petition opposing the proposals had been submitted with just under 5,000 signatures, although with no addresses these could not be validated.

The areas of concern have been addressed in the planning conditions.

These include that no mural shall be painted on the scheme’s walls until approved by the council; that no speakers for playing music should be installed on roof terraces; and that no apartment in Building B, which faces towards the courtyard of Hope Foundry, shall be occupied until a residents’ welcome pack has been issued spelling out the issues around noise.

The conditions include points around insulation, and set out specific acceptable noise levels for the various parts of the site.

All documents relating to the application can be viewed on Leeds City Council’s planning portal with the reference 24/02803/RM.

The scheme comprises 302 apartments, with the affordable homes requirement of 20% being met. There will be 157 one-bedroom flats, 116 two-bedroom flats and 29 three-bedroom flats. Mabgate Yard includes external amenities in The Garden and The Yard, with active frontages required at ground level facing Mabgate.