Revised plan for development of historic site go to councillors

Plans for the former Buslingthorpe Tannery in Education Road, Sheepscar, Leeds, will be discussed at an early stage by councillors when they meet tomorrow. It will be determined at a later date.

Permission for a scheme to create 716 flats was refused last year because it was felt it would lead to the overdevelopment of the site.

Councillors at the meeting will hear a position statement on the latest plans.

A report to members says: "In terms of the estimated number of residential units, 275 apartments plus the 10 town houses are proposed."

When Henry Buck Partnership's application was last discussed by councillors members raised concerns including the amount and location of amenity space and worries over the amount of parking.

Officers say that in total 198 car parking spaces are proposed, which is almost at the 70 per cent level required, but add that a detailed layout of parking is still required and would need to be assessed by highways officers. Amenity spaces are also provided for and some of the flats would have balconies.

The main five-storey tannery building would be retained and topped with an additional storey together with an extension.

Remaining industrial buildings would be demolished and new apartment blocks would also be built, together with 10 three-storey town houses built from brick.

It is proposed the site would be accessed via Jackson Road and Education Road, off Meanwood Road. There would be no access from Sheepscar Street, off Scott Hall Road.

The tannery complex was established sometime around 1840, on the site of an earlier dyeworks.

The report adds: "It is one of a very small number of 19th century tanneries to survive in good approximation of their original condition within Leeds.

"Leeds was second only to London as a centre of the tanning industry, and as that industry is now defunct, any well-preserved sites in the area are considered to be of regional and national archaeological importance."

The multi-storey buildings which it is proposed to preserve date from the third quarter of the 19th century and the covered tanning yards appear to have been built in the late 1880s or early 1890s.

The report says: "Little substantive demolition has taken place on the site since its last period of use as tannery.

"The buildings which survive preserve archaeological evidence for all aspects of leather production on site, and for all periods of use except the very earliest."

It adds: "The architectural and archaeological integrity of the site is particularly good, with the survival of the majority of the covered tanyard being especially unusual and valuable."

So far the authority has not received any comments from members of the public. The Victorian Society says the conversion of the principal mill building is welcomed. No objections are made about the proposed demolitions or the proposed new buildings.

Leeds Civic Trust supports the application and considers it would be a good re-use of an historic building. However, it does have concerns and describes the design of the new building as "very ordinary" and says the flat sizes are too small and would have a limited appeal.

Councillors will be asked for their views on the initial proposal ahead of any planning application, which would be further discussed by members.

In conclusion officers say: The applicant has significantly reduced the proposed scheme from the previous scheme which was refused. The scale of development has been reduced to provide a development which fits with the character and appearance of the Conservation Area."