Leeds decision deferred on 164-apartment Countrylarge resi

With concerns raised in the chamber over affordable homes and green space, the developer will be asked to revisit its proposals, while the city plans panel also offered suggestions as Elland Road’s redesign advances.

Countrylarge’s site at Sayner Lane in the South Bank already has a consent, secured by another developer, for 150 flats over 16 storeys – however, the developer has put forward a project two storeys taller.

While members of the city plans panel remarked on the positivity of change around the South Bank, several raised concerns over the complete lack of affordable homes in the proposal, and the lack of green space. There were also questions over parking, with only three spaces included within the scheme.

Cllr Dan Cohen described the project as “hugely problematic”, stating that “viability is one thing, but the lack of contribution to green space is unacceptable. There is more work for the developer to do before I could consider supporting this.”

Officer recommendation for the Corstorphine & Wright-designed project had been to defer to the chief planning officer to approve. However, no member volunteered to second a motion to approve that and with a majority looking willing to refuse outright, Cllr Peter Carlill suggested a motion to defer a decision, agreed on unanimously.

As recorded by area planning manager Daljit Singh, the applicant will be asked to rethink on viability, green space and potential structural changes to make the scheme work in a way acceptable to the city’s elected members.

Following the lengthy debate on Countrylarge’s plans, the panel was presented to by representatives of the team behind Leeds United’s plans to expand Elland Road, including LUFC’s chief business officer Morrie Eisenberg and David Keirle, director of architect KSS.

The club’s plans remain at an early stage, with consultation only recently open on the plans, which are centred on expanding the North (Kop) and West Stands – full consent will be sought on the West Stand and outline for the North.

Points made by members – essentially, matters they would like to see due attention given to in planning submissions – included travel management and sustainability.

On transport, Keirle said there is an aspiration to reduce the 65% of fans who currently travel to games at Elland Road by car to first 55% then 50% – a goal he believes attainable should the incoming tram system be developed, along with the opening of the White Roe railway station.

KSS said that the team will be happy to speak at the July plans panel with a further update.

The Countrylarge scheme can be viewed on Leeds City Council’s planning portal with the reference 23/07019/FU. The LUFC project has the reference PREAPP-24/00434.