Planning in Leeds

COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND OTHER SERVICES

Access to local community facilities and services, such as education, training, places of worship, health, sport and recreation and community centres, is important to the health and wellbeing of a neighbourhood. New community facilities and services should be accessible by foot, cycling, or by public transport in the interests of sustainability and health and wellbeing. Facilities and services should not adversely impact on residential amenity and should where possible, and appropriate, be located in centres with other community uses. The scale of the facility or service should be considered in conjunction with the level of need within the community and its proposed location within the Settlement Hierarchy. Where proposals for development would result in the loss of an existing facility or service, satisfactory alternative provision should be made elsewhere within the community if a sufficient level of need is identified.

REGENERATION PRIORITY PROGRAMME AREAS

The following Regeneration Priority Programme Areas identified on the Key Diagram will be given priority for regeneration funding and resources: • East Leeds, • Aire Valley Leeds, • Leeds Bradford Corridor (incorporating West Leeds Gateway SPD), • South Leeds. Additional Council led regeneration initiatives outside of the Regeneration Priority Programme Areas that can demonstrate a positive impact on their neighbourhoods will be supported. Priority will be given to developments that improve housing quality, affordability and choice, improve access to employment and skills development, enhance green infrastructure and green space, upgrade the local business environment, and improve local facilities and services. The Regeneration Priority Programme Areas will be kept under review through the Council's Regeneration Priority Programme (and supporting evidence base), with any revisions reflected in future LDF documents.

DESIGN

New development for buildings and spaces, and alterations to existing, should be based on a thorough contextual analysis and provide good design that is appropriate to its location, scale and function. New development will be expected to deliver high quality inclusive design that has evolved, where appropriate, through community consultation and thorough analysis and understanding of an area. Developments should respect and enhance existing landscapes, waterscapes, streets, spaces and buildings according to the particular local distinctiveness and wider setting of the place with the intention of contributing positively to place making, quality of life and wellbeing. Proposals will be supported where they accord with the following key principles; (i) The size, scale, design and layout of the development is appropriate to its context and respects the character and quality of surrounding buildings; the streets and spaces that make up the public realm and the wider locality. (ii) The development protects and enhances the district's existing, historic and natural assets, in particular, historic and natural site features and locally important buildings, spaces, skylines and views, (iii) The development protects the visual, residential and general amenity of the area through high quality design that protects and enhances surrounding routes, useable space, privacy, air quality and satisfactory penetration of sunlight and daylight, (iv) Car parking, cycle, waste and recycling storage should be designed in a positive manner and be integral to the development, (v) The development creates a safe and secure environment that reduces the opportunities for crime without compromising community cohesion, (vi) The development is accessible to all users.

General Employment Land

(A) General employment land will be identified, in the first instance, to meet the identified need for land to accommodate research and development, industry, warehousing and waste uses over the plan period (as identified in Spatial Policy 9) including a margin of choice for the market by: (i) Carrying forward existing allocations and other commitments that have been assessed to be suitable, available and deliverable for general employment use or, (ii) Identifying new allocations of general employment land to address deficiencies in the existing supply over the District and within local areas in the following locations, subject to the suitability, availability and deliverability of that land: • In accessible locations within the Main Urban Area, Major Settlements and Smaller Settlements; including sites with good access to the motorway, rail and waterways networks, • Within regeneration areas identified in Spatial Policy 4, • Within established industrial areas, • Within urban extensions linked to new housing proposals to help deliver sustainable mixed use communities, (iii) Phasing the release of the land consistent with the overall strategy for major regeneration and housing growth, (iv) Identifying freight storage/distribution opportunities as part of the overall employment land requirement set out in Spatial Policy 9. The site search will be focused in the following locations: • Along rail corridors, particularly in the Aire Valley, • Along the Aire and Calder Navigation. (B) Other uses (i.e. sui generis) with similar locational requirements to the employment uses set out under (A) which are generally less well suited to locating in centres, residential areas or other environmentally sensitive areas are acceptable on general employment sites.

OFFICE DEVELOPMENT

Appropriate locations for allocations and windfall office development; (i) A target of 655,000 sqm for the City Centre and 23,000 sqm of new office floorspace is set for locations in or on the edge of town centres to guide allocation documents, (ii) The focus for most office development will be within and/or edge of the City Centre and designated Town and Local Centres, Due to the availability of development opportunities in centre and edge of centre, out of centre proposals would normally be resisted. Exceptions would apply where either (iii) or (iv) below are applicable, (iii) There are existing commitments for office development that can be carried forward to meet the identified floorspace requirement over the plan period, unless it would be more sustainable for the land to be re-allocated to meet identified needs for other uses, (iv) There is a need to provide flexibility for businesses, so that small scale office development (up to 500 sqm) will not be subject to sequential assessments in the following locations, i. Regeneration Priority Programme Areas identified under Spatial Policy 4, ii. Settlements within the Hierarchy which do not have designated Centres as outlined in Map 4, iii. Villages or rural areas that are not included in the Settlements Hierarchy as outlined in Map 3, (v) In existing major employment areas, which are already a focus for offices, some small scale office floorspace may be acceptable where this does not compromise the centres first approach.

SAFEGUARDING EXISTING EMPLOYMENT LAND AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS

Part A: For all sites across the District outside of areas of shortfall A) Proposals for a change of use on sites which were last used or allocated for employment to other economic development uses including town centre uses or to non-employment uses will only be permitted where: (i) The proposal would not result in the loss of a deliverable employment site necessary to meet the employment needs during the plan period ('employment needs' are identified in Spatial Policy 9), Or (ii) Existing buildings and land are considered to be non-viable in terms of market attractiveness, business operations, age, condition and/or compatibility with adjacent uses, Or (iii) The proposal will deliver a mixed use development which continues to provide for a range of local employment opportunities and would not undermine the viability of the remaining employment site, And where appropriate, Part B: For sites in shortfall areas B) Where a proposal located in an area of shortfall as identified in the most recent Employment Land Review would result in the loss of a general employment allocation or an existing use within the Use Classes B1b, B1c, B2 and B8, non-employment uses will only be permitted where: The loss of the general employment site or premises can be offset sufficiently by the availability of existing general employment land and premises in the surrounding area (including outside the areas of shortfall) which are suitable to meeting the employment needs of the area.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES

A competitive local economy will be supported through: (i) The provision and safeguarding of a sufficient supply of land and buildings, as part of a wide portfolio of sites to match employment needs and opportunities for B class uses, (ii) Promoting the development of a strong local economy through enterprise and innovation, in facilitating existing strengths in financial and business services and manufacturing and to continue to grow opportunities in health and medical, low carbon manufacturing, digital and creative, retail, housing and construction, social enterprise, leisure and tourism and the voluntary sector, (iii) Job retention and creation, promoting the need for a skilled workforce, educational attainment and reducing barriers to employment opportunities, (iv) Seeking to improve accessibility to employment opportunities by public transport, walking and cycling across the District and especially in relation to job opportunities in the City Centre and Aire Valley Leeds (Urban Eco Settlement and Enterprise Zone), (v) Supporting the growth and diversification of the rural economy, consistent with the Settlement Hierarchy and the protection and enhancement of a high quality rural environment. Outside the Main Urban Area, Major Settlements and Small Settlements, the following proposals should be supported, where appropriate, • conversion of existing buildings, • promote the development and diversification of agricultural and other land-based rural businesses, • support provision and expansion of tourist and cultural facilities in appropriate locations, • retention and development of local services and community facilities. (vi) Supporting training/skills and job creation initiatives via planning agreements linked to the implementation of appropriate developments given planning permission, (vii) Developing the City Centre and the Town/Local Centres as the core location for new retail, office employment and other main town centre uses, (viii) Supporting development in existing locations/sites for general industry and warehousing, particularly in locations which take full advantage of existing services, high levels of accessibility and infrastructure (including locations and sites accessible by rail and/or waterway), (ix) Support the advancement of high quality communications infrastructure to foster sustainable economic growth and to enhance business links subject to landscape, townscape and amenity considerations, (x) Support the retention and provision of new business start-up units including small workshops, where appropriate.

PROVISION FOR OFFICES, INDUSTRY AND WAREHOUSE EMPLOYMENT LAND AND PREMISES

Potential job growth in the traditional employment land use sectors (offices, industry and warehousing) will be accommodated over the plan period by ensuring locations and sites provide: (i) A minimum of 706,250 sqm office (B1a class) floorspace in the District. 840,000 sqm already exist in planning permissions. To provide flexibility when determining renewals on existing out of centre permissions a minimum of an additional 160,000 sqm will be identified in or on the edge of the City Centre and Town Centres, (ii) A minimum of 493 ha of land of general employment land for uses such as research and development, industrial and distribution/warehousing uses in the District (B1b, B1c, B2 and B8 classes). The locations and sites will appear across the whole of the District.

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

Non-residential developments of 1,000 or more square metres (including conversion) where feasible are required to meet the BREEAM standard of 'excellent'. Residential developments of 10 or more dwellings (including conversion) where feasible are required to meet a water standard of 110 litres per person per day.

LOW CARBON ENERGY

The Council supports appropriate opportunities to improve energy efficiency and increase the large scale (above 0.5 MW) commercial renewable energy capacity, as a basis to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes wind energy, hydro power, biomass treatment, solar energy, landfill gas, and energy from waste. Protection of internationally designated nature conservation sites will be a key consideration, including relevant Policies contained as part of the Natural Resources and Waste Local Plan. Proposals for biomass power generation are required to supply an assessment of the potential biomass resource available (including location) and the transport implications of using that resource. Any development that may lead to an adverse effect on the integrity of a European site will not be supported.

Climate Change – Carbon Dioxide Reduction

All developments of 10 dwellings or more, or over 1,000 square metres of floorspace, (including conversion) where feasible), will be required to: (i) Reduce total predicted carbon dioxide emissions to achieve 20% less than the Building Regulations Target Emission Rate until 2016 when all development should be zero carbon, and (ii) Provide a minimum of 10% of the predicted energy needs of the development from low carbon energy. Carbon dioxide reductions achieved through criteria (ii) will contribute to meeting criteria (i). Criteria (ii) will be calculated against the emissions rate predicted by criteria (i) so reducing overall energy demand by taking a fabric first approach will reduce the amount of renewable capacity required. If it can be demonstrated that decentralised renewable or low carbon energy generation is not practical on or near the proposed development, it may be acceptable to provide a contribution equivalent to the cost of providing the 10%, which the council will use towards an off-site low carbon scheme. The opportunity to aggregate contributions to deliver larger scale low carbon projects would be implemented independent of the development. Wherever possible, the low carbon projects would be linked with local projects that would bring local benefits. It is likely that the approach of pooling off-site contributions through planning obligations will be replaced by CIL in April 2014. Applicants will be required to submit an Energy Assessment with their application based on expected end user requirements to demonstrate compliance with this Policy. Where end user requirements change significantly, an updated EA should be submitted prior to construction.

DISTRICT HEATING

Where technically viable, appropriate for the development, and in areas with sufficient existing or potential heat density, developments of 1,000 sqm or more or 10 dwellings or more (including conversions where feasible) should propose heating systems according to the following hierarchy: (i) Connection to existing District heating networks, (ii) Construction of a site wide District heating network served by a new low carbon heat source, (iii) Collaboration with neighbouring development sites or existing heat loads/sources to develop a viable shared District heating network, (iv) In areas where District heating is currently not viable, but there is potential for future District heating networks, all development proposals will need to demonstrate how sites have been designed to allow for connection to a future District heating network. Carbon savings and renewable energy generation achieved under this policy will contribute to EN1(i) and EN1(ii).

MANAGING FLOOD RISK

The Council will manage and mitigate flood risk by: Avoiding development in flood risk areas, where possible, by applying the sequential approach and where this is not possible by mitigating measures, in line with the NPPF, both in the allocation of sites for development and in the determination of planning applications. (i) Protecting areas of functional floodplain as shown on the Leeds SFRA from development (except for water compatible uses and essential infrastructure), (ii) Requiring flood risk to be considered for all development commensurate with the scale and impact of the proposed development and mitigated where appropriate, (iii) Reducing the speed and volume of surface water run-off as part of new build developments, (iv) Making space for flood water in high flood risk areas, (v) Reducing the residual risks within Areas of Rapid Inundation, (vi) Encouraging the removal of existing culverting where practicable and appropriate, (vii) The development of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme.

STRATEGIC WASTE MANAGEMENT

Waste in Leeds will be managed by application of the waste hierarchy in the following way: (i) Development will be required to demonstrate measures to reduce and re-use waste both during construction and throughout the life of the development; and (ii) Sufficient space will be provided within all new developments (including conversions) to enable separation, storage, and collection of recyclable materials to take place. The Council will ensure that sufficient sites are provided across the District for the treatment, transfer, recycling and recovery of the following annual waste arisings by 2028. Waste Stream - Tonnes Per annum (pa) to 2028 Municipal Waste - 383,976 Commercial and Industrial - 1,212,000 Construction, Demolition and Excavation Waste - 1,556,000 Hazardous Waste - 103,026 Total - 3,255,002 The strategy for meeting this need is as follows: (i) A strategic site for municipal waste treatment in the Aire Valley, (ii) A strategic site for non-municipal waste management in the Aire Valley, (iii) Safeguarding of a range of existing waste sites across the District, including household waste sites, (iv) Identification of existing industrial estates which are suitable, and have capacity, for waste management purposes, and (v) Restriction on new landfill provision in the District, unless a local need can be demonstrated

MINERALS

Proven mineral resources of surface coal and sand and gravel will be protected from sterilisation by the designation of the following mineral safeguarding areas: (i) Surface coal – extensive across the main urban area and to the south and east of the District, (ii) Sand and gravel – the lower Aire Valley around Methley, the Wharfe Valley (to the west of Pool) and the Aire Valley through the urban area. Leeds will aim to meet the following targets for aggregate provision during the plan period: Sand and gravel: 146,000 tonnes per annum Crushed rock: 440,000 tonnes per annum The Council will seek to identify opportunities to ensure that aggregates can be transported by non-road based freight into the city and maximise opportunities for marine-won aggregate to contribute towards supply.

ENHANCING AND EXTENDING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

Where a development is considered to be acceptable within or adjoining areas defined as Green Infrastructure on Map 16 or on any future LDF Allocation Documents, development proposals should ensure that: (i) Green Infrastructure/corridor function of the land is retained and improved, particularly in areas of growth, (ii) Where appropriate, the opportunity is taken to extend Green Infrastructure by linking green spaces or by filling in gaps in Green Infrastructure corridors, including (where relevant) extending these into Leeds City Centre. Street trees and green roofs are particularly encouraged, (iii) A landscaping scheme is provided which deals positively with the transition between development and any adjoining open land, (iv) The opportunity is taken to increase appropriate species of woodland cover in the District, (v) Provision for and retention of biodiversity and wildlife, (vi) Opportunities are taken to protect and enhance the Public Rights of Way (PROW) network through avoiding unnecessary diversions and by adding new links.

Creation of New Tree Cover

Development which would result in harm to, or the loss of, Ancient Woodland and Veteran Trees will be resisted. In supporting the need and desire to increase native and appropriate tree cover, the Council will, on its own initiative and through the development process, including developer contributions, work towards increasing appropriate species of woodland cover in the District. Delivery will involve planting in both urban and rural areas, and partnership with the Forestry Commission, Natural England and landowners. Development in the urban area of the City, including the City Centre will include the planting of street trees in appropriately designed pits to increase the area of tree canopy cover.

Standards for Open Space, Sport and Recreation

The following open space standards will be used to determine the adequacy of existing supply and appropriate provision of new open space: Type: Parks and gardens - Quantity (per thousand people): 1 hectare - Accessibility: 720 metres - Quality: Good (7) Type: Outdoor sports provision - Quantity (per thousand people): 1.2 hectares (excludes education provision) - Accessibility: Tennis court 720 metres, bowling greens and grass playing pitches 3.2 km, athletics tracks, synthetic pitches 6.4 km - Quality: Good (7) Type: Amenity Green Space - Quantity (per thousand people): 0.45 hectares - Accessibility: 480 metres - Quality: Good (7) Type: Children and Young People's equipped play facilities - Quantity (per thousand people): 2 facilities - Accessibility: 720 metres - Quality: Good (7) Type: Allotments - Quantity (per thousand people): 0.24 hectares - Accessibility: 960 metres - Quality: Good (7) Type: Natural green space - Quantity (per thousand people): 0.7 hectares main urban area and major settlements, 2 hectares other areas - Accessibility: 720 metres and 2 km from site of 20 hectares - Quality: Good (7) Type: City Centre open space provision all types (including civic space) - Quantity (per thousand people): 0.41 hectares - Accessibility: 720 metres - Quality: Good (7)

GREEN SPACE IMPROVEMENT AND NEW GREEN SPACE PROVISION

Residential developments of 10 dwellings or more will be required to provide the following quantities of on site green space per residential unit or where this quantity of green space is unachievable or inappropriate on-site, equivalent off-site provision, financial contribution or combinations thereof should be sought: 1 bedroom dwelling: 23sqm 2 bedroom dwelling: 33sqm 3 bedroom dwelling: 44sqm 4 bedroom dwelling: 54sqm 5 or more bedroom dwelling: 66sqm Student bedspaces: 18sqm In determining whether this quantity of provision should be delivered on-site, off-site or as a commuted sum, consideration of the circumstances set out in paragraph 5.5.14 will indicate whether green space should be provided on-site. Where the factors of paragraph 5.5.14 require green space to be provided on site: a) The type of green space provided should be decided taking account of the following factors: i) Calculations of local surplus and deficiency ii) Mix of dwellings and need for play facilities iii) Practicality of on-site delivery iv) Policy & proposals of an applicable Neighbourhood Plan b) Arrangements for on-going maintenance must be agreed c) Green space should be accessible to members of the public d) Green space should positively contribute to the overall design and character of development If off-site financial contributions are to be accepted the core components of the calculation are as follows: • The costs of laying out space • Maintenance (general and play facilities) and • A per-child factor Financial contributions will be used effectively to meet local needs for green space.

OPEN SPACE PROVISION IN THE CITY CENTRE

Within the City Centre, open space provision will be sought for sites over 0.5 hectares as follows: (i) Commercial developments to provide a minimum of 20% of the total site area, (ii) Residential development to provide a minimum of 0.41 hectares of open space per 1,000 population, (iii) Mixed use development to provide the greater area of either 20% of the total site area, or a minimum of 0.41 hectares per 1,000 population of open space, In areas of adequate open space supply or where it can be demonstrated that not all the required on site delivery of open space can be achieved due to site specific issues, contributions in lieu of provision will be required towards identified open space and public realm projects.

PROTECTION AND REDEVELOPMENT OF EXISTING GREEN SPACE

Green space (including open space and pedestrian corridors in the City Centre) will be protected from development unless one of the following criteria is met: (i) There is an adequate supply of accessible green space/open space within the analysis area and the development site offers no potential for use as an alternative deficient open space type, as illustrated in the Leeds Open Space, Sport and Recreation Assessment, or, (ii) The green space/open space is replaced by an area of at least equal size, accessibility and quality in the same locality; or (iii) Where supported by evidence and in the delivery of wider planning benefits, redevelopment proposals demonstrate a clear relationship to improvements of existing green space quality in the same locality.

CEMETERIES AND BURIAL SPACE

Development proposals for cemetery and burial facilities will be permitted where they can demonstrate: • Access by public transport, walking and cycling, • Easy and safe access to people with disabilities, • There would not be demonstrably harmful impact on the character of the surrounding area and the amenities of nearby residential properties and other uses and • The scale is appropriate to identified need.

Protection of Important Species and Habitats

Development will not be permitted which would seriously harm, either directly or indirectly, any sites designated of national, regional or local importance for biodiversity or geological importance or which would cause any harm to internationally designated sites, or would cause harm to the population or conservation status of UK or West Yorkshire Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP and WY BAP) Priority species and habitats. In considering development proposals affecting any designated sites and UK or WY BAP Priority species or habitats, the needs of the development and the requirements to maintain and enhance biological and geological diversity will be examined. Other than the above requirement particular account will be taken of: • The extent and significance of potential damage to the interest of any national, regional or local site, or UK or WY BAP Priority species or habitat, and • Demonstration that the need for the development outweighs the importance of any national, regional or local site, or UK or WY BAP Priority species or habitat, and • The extent that any adverse impact could be reduced and minimised through protection, mitigation, enhancement and compensatory measures imposed through planning conditions or obligations and which would be subject to appropriate monitoring arrangements.

Biodiversity Improvements

Development will be required to demonstrate: (i) That there will be an overall net gain for biodiversity commensurate with the scale of the development, including a positive contribution to the habitat network through habitat protection, creation and enhancement, and (ii) The design of new development, including landscape, enhances existing wildlife habitats and provides new areas and opportunities for wildlife, and (iii) That there is no significant adverse impact on the integrity and connectivity of the Leeds Habitat Network.

LANDSCAPE

The character, quality and biodiversity of Leeds' townscapes and landscapes, including their historical and cultural significance, will be conserved and enhanced to protect their distinctiveness through stewardship and the planning process.

GREEN BELT

A review of the Green Belt will need to be carried out to accommodate the scale of housing and employment growth identified in Spatial Policy 6 and Spatial Policy 9, as well as an additional contingency to create new Protected Areas of Search (to replace those in the UDP which will be allocated for future development). The review will generally consider Green Belt release around: (i) the Main Urban Area (Leeds City Centre and surrounding areas forming the main urban and suburban areas of the City), (ii) Major Settlements of Garforth, Guiseley/Yeadon/Rawdon, Morley, Otley, Rothwell and Wetherby, (iii) Smaller Settlements (listed in Table 1: Settlement Hierarchy), Exceptionally, sites unrelated to the Main Urban Area, Major Settlements and Smaller Settlements, could be considered, where they will be in sustainable locations and are able to provide a full range of local facilities and services and within the context of their Housing Market Characteristic Area, are more appropriate in meeting the spatial objectives of the plan than the alternatives within the Settlement Hierarchy. Otherwise review of the Green Belt will not be considered to ensure that its general extent is maintained. In assessing whether sites in the Green Belt review should be allocated for development, the following criteria will be applied: (iv) Sites will be assessed against the purposes of including land in Green Belts identified in national guidance (National Planning Policy Framework). These purposes are: o to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built up areas, o to prevent n

STRATEGIC GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

The Strategic Green Infrastructure for the Leeds District is indicated on the Key Diagram. This infrastructure performs many important functions and provides for opportunities for recreation. Within these areas the Council will maintain and, in partnership with others, enhance the following key corridors: (i) The Aire Valley, along the river and canal corridors and including; West Leeds Country Park and Kirkstall Valley Park to the north; Fairburn Ings; St Aidans and Aire Valley Leeds to the South, incorporating the proposed Urban Eco-Settlement (which has particular aims to strengthen green links to Leeds City Centre, the lower Aire Valley, Temple Newsam, and Rothwell Country Park), (ii) South Leeds (including the Morley-Middleton-Holbeck corridor), (iii) The Limestone Ridge (which runs North-South at the Eastern edge of the District), (iv) The Wharfe Valley and Chevin Ridge, (v) Wyke Beck Valley, (vi) Woodhouse Ridge, (vii) Meanwood Valley, (viii) Tong Cockersdale, (ix) Gledhow Valley.

CONSERVATION

The historic environment, consisting of archaeological remains, historic buildings townscapes and landscapes, including locally significant undesignated assets and their settings, will be conserved and enhanced, particularly those elements which help to give Leeds its distinct identity: • the Victorian and Edwardian civic and public buildings, theatres, arcades, warehouses and offices within the City Centre and the urban grain of yards and alleys, • the nationally significant industrial heritage relating to its textile, tanning and engineering industries, including its factories, chimneys and associated housing, • its legacy of country houses, public parks, gardens and cemeteries, • the 19th century transport network, including the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Development proposals will be expected to demonstrate a full understanding of historic assets affected, including any known or potential archaeological remains. Where appropriate, heritage statements assessing the significance of assets, the impact of proposals and mitigation measures will be required to be submitted by developers to accompany development proposals. Innovative and sustainable construction which integrates with and enhances the historic environment will be encouraged. Conservation-led regeneration schemes will be promoted. Priorities for new schemes will be in Regeneration Priority Programme Areas, but schemes outside these areas may also be considered where the historic environment offers potential as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the area. The Council maintains a register of historic assets at risk to help it prioritise action and will seek to impose planning conditions or obligations for their repair and refurbishment where appropriate. Where appropriate, the City Council will use the provisions of the planning acts to secure repairs. Enabling development may be supported in the vicinity of historic assets where linked to the refurbishment or repair of heritage assets. This will be secured by planning condition or planning obligation.

MANAGED RELEASE OF SITES

LDF Allocation Documents will phase the release of allocations according to the following criteria in order to ensure sufficiency of supply, geographical distribution in accordance with Spatial Policy 7, and achievement of a previously developed land target of 65% for the first 5 years and 55% thereafter. Subject to these considerations, phases with the earliest release should be made up of sites which best address the following criteria: (i) Location in regeneration areas, (ii) Locations which have the best public transport accessibility, (iii) Locations with the best accessibility to local services, (iv) Locations with least impact on Green Belt objectives, (v) Sites with least negative and most positive impacts on existing and proposed green infrastructure, green corridors, green space and nature conservation, Consideration will be given to bringing forward large sites, of more than 750 dwellings, to facilitate early delivery in the Plan period. In special circumstances, allocated sites may be permitted to be released in advance of their phasing outlined above, so long as the permitted site delivers infrastructure and housing investment that is needed within Regeneration Priority Programme Areas. In such cases, suitable mechanisms will be agreed to ensure that delivery within the Regeneration Priority Programme Area occurs either before, or in conjunction with the delivery of the permitted site. The Council will maintain a five year supply (plus appropriate NPPF buffer) of deliverable housing sites through considering release of the subsequent phase or phases of sites to help address the shortfall.

NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ON NON ALLOCATED SITES

New housing development will be acceptable in principle on non-allocated land, providing that: (i) The number of dwellings does not exceed the capacity of transport, educational and health infrastructure, as existing or provided as a condition of development, (ii) For developments of 5 or more dwellings the location should accord with the Accessibility Standards in Table 2 of Appendix 3, (iii) Green Belt Policy is satisfied for sites in the Green Belt. In addition, greenfield land: a) Should not be developed if it has intrinsic value as amenity space or for recreation or for nature conservation, or makes a valuable contribution to the visual, historic and/or spatial character of an area, or b) May be developed if it concerns a piece of designated green space found to be surplus to requirements by the Open Space, Sport and Recreation Assessment.

DENSITY OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

Housing development in Leeds should meet or exceed the following net densities unless there are overriding reasons concerning townscape, character, design or highway capacity: (i) City Centre and fringe* - 65 dwellings per hectare (ii) Other urban areas - 40 dwellings per hectare (iii) Fringe urban areas - 35 dwellings per hectare (iv) Smaller Settlements - 30 dwellings per hectare Special consideration will be given to the prevailing character and appearance in Conservation Areas. * fringe is defined as up to 500m from the boundary

HOUSING MIX

Developments should include an appropriate mix of dwelling types and sizes to address needs measured over the long term taking into account the nature of the development and character of the location. This should include the need to make provision for Independent Living (see Policy H8) For developments over 250 units, in or adjoining the Main Urban Area and Major Settlements or for developments over 50 units in or adjoining Smaller Settlements, developers should submit a Housing Needs Assessment addressing all tenures so that the needs of the locality can be taken into account at the time of development.

ACCOMMODATION FOR GYPSIES, TRAVELLERS AND TRAVELLING SHOW PEOPLE

The City Council will identify suitable sites in the Site Allocations Plan to accommodate the following identified needs: • 62 pitches for Gypsies and Travellers (of no more than 15 pitches per site), and • 15 plots for Travelling Showpeople (to be accommodated on either one or two sites), In identifying land or determining planning applications for pitches / plots, consideration will be based on the following criteria: (i) pitches and plots should have reasonable access to public transport, health care, schools, shops and local services, (ii) pitches and plots should not be located on land that is deemed unsuitable for general housing, such as land that is contaminated, adjacent to refuse sites, landfill sites, heavy industry or electricity pylons, (iii) pitches and plots should avoid zones of high flood risk (zone 3 flood risk areas), (iv) the following order of preference for categories of land should be followed: brownfield, greenfield and Green Belt. Alterations to the Green Belt boundary to accommodate pitches and plots will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, to meet a specific identified need. In such circumstances and as part of the Site Allocations Plan, sites will be specifically allocated as a Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople's site only, (v) the availability of alternative deliverable sites for Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

HOUSING FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING

Developments of 50 or more dwellings are expected to make a contribution to supporting needs for Independent Living. Very large scale development will have potential to provide sheltered schemes, as part of a wide housing mix. Smaller developments may contribute in other ways, including provision of bungalows or level access flats. Sheltered and other housing schemes aimed at elderly or disabled people should be located within easy walking distance of town or local centres or have good access to a range of local community facilities. LDF Allocations Documents should seek to identify land which would be particularly appropriate for sheltered or other housing aimed at elderly or disabled people.

MINIMUM SPACE STANDARDS

All new dwellings must comply with the following standards: The standard requires that: a. the dwelling provides at least the gross internal floor area and built-in storage area set out in Table 1 below b. a dwelling with two or more bedspaces has at least one double (or twin) bedroom c. in order to provide one bedspace, a single bedroom has a floor area of at least 7.5m2 and is at least 2.15m wide d. in order to provide two bedspaces, a double (or twin bedroom) has a floor area of at least 11.5m2 e. one double (or twin bedroom) is at least 2.75m wide and every other double (or twin) bedroom is at least 2.55m wide f. any area with a headroom of less than 1.5m is not counted within the Gross Internal Area unless used solely for storage (if the area under the stairs is to be used for storage, assume a general floor area of 1m2 within the Gross Internal Area) g. any other area that is used solely for storage and has a headroom of 900- 1500mm (such as under eaves) is counted at 50% of its floor area, and any area lower than 900mm is not counted at all h. a built-in wardrobe counts towards the Gross Internal Area and bedroom floor area requirements, but should not reduce the effective width of the room below the minimum widths set out above. The built-in area in excess of 0.72m2 in a double bedroom and 0.36m2 in a single bedroom counts towards the built-in storage requirement i. the minimum floor to ceiling height is 2.3m for at least 75% of the Gross Internal Area Departures from this policy should be justified by evidence of viability considerations

Accessible Housing Standards

New build residential developments should include the following proportions of accessible dwellings: • 30% of dwellings meet the requirements of M4(2) 'accessible and adaptable dwellings' of Part M Volume 1 of the Building Regulations. • 2% of dwellings meet the requirement of M4(3) 'wheelchair user dwellings' of Part M volume 1 of the Building Regulations. Wheelchair user dwellings should meet the M4(3) wheelchair adaptable dwelling standard unless Leeds City Council is responsible for nominating a person to live in the dwelling. Where the scale of development would generate more than one accessible dwelling, the mix of sizes, types and tenures of M4(2) and M4(3) dwellings should reflect the mix of sizes, types and tenures of the development as a whole as closely as possible (unless the applicant can demonstrate an evidenced need locally to provide accessible housing in dwellings of a particular size, type and / or tenure. Locally will normally mean the Designated Neighbourhood Area, or where this is not defined, will mean relevant settlement, or ward if the site lies within the main urban area). The required number, mix and location of accessible dwellings should be clearly illustrated on drawings and via planning condition. Departures from this policy should be justified by evidence of viability considerations.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

On major* housing developments, affordable housing provision should be provided on-site at the target levels specified in the following zones: Zone Minimum Target 1 35% 2 15% 3 7% 4 7% The mix of affordable housing should be designed to meet the identified needs of households as follows: • 40% affordable housing for Intermediate or equivalent affordable tenures • 60% affordable housing for Social Rented or equivalent affordable tenures The affordable units should be a pro-rata mix in terms of sizes and house types of the total housing provision, unless there are specific needs which indicate otherwise, and they should be suitably integrated throughout a development site. Affordable housing provision should be on site, unless off site provision or a financial contribution can be robustly justified. Build-to-rent developments shall provide either: i) on-site, according to national policy advice, currently 20% Affordable Private Rent dwellings at 80% of local market rents administered by a management company with appropriate arrangements for identifying households in need, including city council nomination rights, which apply in perpetuity, or ii) on-site, the percentage of affordable housing specified for zones 1-4 and mix of Intermediate and Social Rented types of affordable housing set out in the first paragraphs of this Policy at affordable housing benchmark rents administered by either a registered provider or a management company with appropriate arrangements for identifying households in need, including City Council nomination rights, which apply in perpetuity, or iii) a commuted sum in lieu of on-site provision of affordable housing of option ii). Departures from this policy should be justified by evidence of viability considerations. * Major development means either: • provision of 10 or more dwellings (or where the number of dwellings is not known, development is to be carried out on a site having an area of 0.5 hectares or more) or • provision of a building or buildings where the floor space to be created would be 1,000 square metres or more; • or development on a site having an area of 1 hectare or more;

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), Student Accommodation and Flat Conversions

A) Within the area of Leeds covered by the Article 4 Direction for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), Development proposals for new HMOs will be determined: (i) To ensure that a sufficient supply of HMOs is maintained in Leeds, (ii) To ensure that HMOs are distributed in areas well connected to employment and educational destinations associated with HMO occupants, (iii) To avoid detrimental impacts through high concentrations of HMOs, which would undermine the balance and health of communities, (iv) To ensure that proposals for new HMOs address relevant amenity and parking concerns, (v) To avoid the loss of existing housing suitable for family occupation in areas of existing high concentrations of HMOs. B) Development proposals for purpose built student accommodation will be controlled: (i) To help extend the supply of student accommodation taking pressure off the need for private housing to be used, (ii) To avoid the loss of existing housing suitable for family occupation, (iii) To avoid excessive concentrations of student accommodation (in a single development or in combination with existing accommodation) which would undermine the balance and wellbeing of communities, (iv) To avoid locations which are not easily accessible to the universities by foot or public transport or which would generate excessive footfall through residential areas which may lead to detrimental impacts on residential amenity, (v) The proposed accommodation provides satisfactory internal living accommodation in terms of daylight, outlook and juxtaposition of living rooms and bedrooms. C) Development proposals for conversion of existing houses into flats will be accepted where all the following criteria apply: (i) The property is not a back-to-back dwelling, (ii) The property is of sufficient size (min. 100 sqm gross) and the internal layout is shown to be suitable for the number of units proposed, (iii) The impact on neighbouring dwellings is not likely to be detrimental to the amenity of their occupants by virtue of the conversion alone or cumulatively with a concentration of converted dwellings, HMOs, or residential institutions, (iv) Where there is a demand for family sized accommodation and the property has (or has the potential for provision of) good access to suitable space for private recreation, provision is normally made for at least one family sized unit in the proposed mix of flats, (v) Sufficient easily accessible and appropriately located off and on street car and cycle parking is incorporated, (vi) The proposed dwellings provide satisfactory internal living accommodation in terms of daylight, outlook and juxtaposition of living rooms and bedrooms, (vii) Each dwelling has safe and secure (and where possible, level) access from the street and any parking areas and suitable accessible enclosures are provided for refuse storage.

Accommodation for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

The City Council will identify suitable sites in the Site Allocations Plan to accommodate the following identified needs: • 62 pitches for Gypsies and Travellers (of no more than 15 pitches per site), and • 15 plots for Travelling Showpeople (to be accommodated on either one or two sites), In identifying land or determining planning applications for pitches / plots, consideration will be based on the following criteria: (i) pitches and plots should have reasonable access to public transport, health care, schools, shops and local services, (ii) pitches and plots should not be located on land that is deemed unsuitable for general housing, such as land that is contaminated, adjacent to refuse sites, landfill sites, heavy industry or electricity pylons, (iii) pitches and plots should avoid zones of high

AIRE VALLEY LEEDS URBAN ECO-SETTLEMENT

Aire Valley Leeds (Urban Eco–Settlement) is identified (see Key Diagram) as a strategic location, providing a minimum of 6,500 new homes, at least 250 hectares of land for employment uses (including research and development, industrial, and warehouse development) and new retail services of an appropriate scale (in accordance with the approach set out in Policies P5 and P7). A review of existing allocations, commitments, and other opportunities in the area will be undertaken through the Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan. The most suitable sites for the above uses will be retained, and co-ordinated measures put in place to address any infrastructure and other physical constraints to development of the land. Sites which are less suitable may be re-allocated for other uses.

THE HOUSING REQUIREMENT AND ALLOCATION OF HOUSING LAND

The provision of 51,952 (net) new dwellings will be accommodated between 2017 and 2033, with a target that 3,247 dwellings per year should be delivered. Delivery of 500 dwellings per annum (8,000 over the plan period) is anticipated on small and unidentified sites. Guided by the Settlement Hierarchy, the Council will identify 46,352 dwellings (gross) to support the distribution in Spatial Policy 7, using the following considerations: i. Sustainable locations (which meet standards of public transport accessibility – see the Well Connected City chapter), supported by existing or access to new local facilities and services, (including Educational and Health Infrastructure), ii. Preference for brownfield and regeneration sites, iii. The least impact on Green Belt purposes, iv. Opportunities to reinforce or enhance the distinctiveness of existing neighbourhoods and quality of life of local communities through the design and standard of new homes, v. The need for realistic lead-in-times and build-out-rates for housing construction, vi. The least negative and most positive impacts on green infrastructure, green corridors, green space and nature conservation, vii. Avoiding areas of flood risk and only where this is not possible, then mitigating flood risk.

DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSING LAND AND ALLOCATIONS

The distribution of housing land (excluding windfall) will be planned based on Housing Market Characteristic Areas as follows: Housing Market Characteristic Area / Percentage: Aireborough 3%, City Centre 15.5%, East Leeds 17%, Inner Area 15%, North Leeds 9%, Outer North East 8%, Outer North West 3%, Outer South 4%, Outer South East 7%, Outer South West 11%, Outer West 7%

PLANNING OBLIGATIONS AND DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTIONS

Section 106 planning obligations will be required as part of a planning permission where this is necessary, directly related to the development, and reasonably related in scale and kind in order to make a specific development acceptable and where a planning condition would not be effective. In order to provide the necessary infrastructure and facilities to support the growth of Leeds and the proposals and Policies in the Core Strategy, developer contributions will be sought through Section 106 planning obligations and the Community Infrastructure Levy as appropriate.

IMPLEMENTATION AND DELIVERY MECHANISMS

The Council will undertake to ensure the delivery and implementation of the Core Strategy through a variety of mechanisms, initiatives, and investment decisions, including: • Partnership working, • Working with communities, including through neighbourhood planning, • Use of Council assets, • Supporting evidence, • Further guidance and development management, • Bidding for funding sources and promoting the City for this purpose, • The use of innovative funding opportunities (such as Tax Incremental Financing to help stimulate local investment, Business Improvement Districts (BIDS), European Development Fund, New Homes Bonus, Community Infrastructure Levy, Asset Leverage - either directly using City Council assets or through an Asset Liquidity Vehicle / Joint Venture), • Linking greenfield and brownfield development, • Recognising the need for contingency planning, • Allowable Solutions.

General Policy

When considering development proposals, the Council will take a positive approach that reflects the presumption in favour of sustainable development contained in the National Planning Policy Framework. It will always work proactively with applicants jointly to find solutions which mean that proposals can be approved wherever possible, and to secure development that improves the economic, social and environmental conditions of Leeds. Planning applications that accord with the Policies in this Plan (and where relevant, with policies in neighbourhood plans) will be approved without delay, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Where there are no policies relevant to the application or relevant policies are out of date at the time of making the decision then the Council will grant planning permission unless material considerations indicate otherwise – taking into account whether: • Any adverse impacts of granting permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the National Planning Policy Framework taken as a whole; or • Specified policies in that Framework indicate that development should be restricted.

Location of Development

To deliver the spatial development strategy based on the Leeds settlement hierarchy and to concentrate the majority of new development within and adjacent to urban areas, taking advantage of existing services, high levels of accessibility, priorities for urban regeneration and an appropriate balance of brownfield and greenfield land, the distribution and scale of development will be in accordance with the following principles: (i) The largest amount of development will be located in the Main Urban Area and Major Settlements. Smaller Settlements will contribute to development needs, with the scale of growth having regard to the settlement's size, function and sustainability, (ii) In applying (i) above, the priority for identifying land for development will be as follows: a. Previously developed land and buildings within the Main Urban Area / relevant settlement, b. Other suitable infill sites within the Main Urban Area / relevant settlement, c. Key locations identified as sustainable extensions to the Main Urban Area / relevant settlement, (iii) For development to respect and enhance the local character and identity of places and neighbourhoods, (iv) To prioritise new office, retail, service, leisure and cultural facilities in Leeds City Centre and the town centres across the District, maximising the opportunities that the existing services and high levels of accessibility and sustainability to new development, (v) To promote economic prosperity, job retention and opportunities for growth: a. In existing established locations for industry and warehousing land and premises, b. In key strategic locations for job growth including the City Centre and Aire Valley Urban Eco-Settlement (as shown in the Key Diagram), c. By retaining and identifying a portfolio of employment land in locations primarily within the urban area, maximising the opportunities that the existing services and high levels of accessibility provide to attract new development, (vi) To recognise the key role of new and existing infrastructure (including green, social and physical) in delivering future development to support communities and economic activity, (vii) In meeting the needs of housing and economic development (and in reflecting the conclusions of the Appropriate Assessment Screening), to seek to meet development requirements, without adverse nature conservation impacts upon Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation, in particular the South Pennine Moors (including Hawksworth Moor), (viii) To undertake a review of the Green Belt (as set out in Spatial Policy 10) to direct development consistent with the overall strategy, (ix) To encourage potential users of rail or water for freight movements to locate at suitable sites.

CITY CENTRE DEVELOPMENT

The City Centre will be planned to accommodate at least the following: (i) 655,000 sqm of office floorspace, (ii) 31,000 sqm of net additional retail space (comparison), following completion of the Trinity and Victoria Gate schemes and subject to need being confirmed in a further retail study, (iii) 10,200 dwellings*, (iv) Supporting services and open spaces and improvements to the public realm. This will be achieved through implementation of outstanding permissions, decision making on planning applications, master-planning, and identification of appropriate sites and mixed use allocations through LDF Allocations Documents, according to the following criteria: a) Favouring locations with the best public transport accessibility for large scale offices, b) Encouraging residential development including new buildings and changes of use of existing providing that it does not prejudice the town centre functions of the City Centre and that it provides a reasonable level of amenity for occupiers, c) Hospital, university, college, and cultural facilities to be retained in the City Centre, d) Comparison retail proposals will be subject to a sequential order of preference of

CITY CENTRE DEVELOPMENT

The City Centre will be planned to accommodate at least the following: (i) 655,000 sqm of office floorspace, (ii) 31,000 sqm of net additional retail space (comparison), following completion of the Trinity and Victoria Gate schemes and subject to need being confirmed in a further retail study, (iii) 10,200 dwellings*, (iv) Supporting services and open spaces and improvements to the public realm. This will be achieved through implementation of outstanding permissions, decision making on planning applications, master-planning, and identification of appropriate sites and mixed use allocations through LDF Allocations Documents, according to the following criteria: a) Favouring locations with the best public transport accessibility for large scale offices, b) Encouraging residential development including new buildings and changes of use of existing providing that it does not prejudice the town centre functions of the City Centre and that it provides a reasonable level of amenity for occupiers, c) Hospital, university, college, and cultural facilities to be retained in the City Centre, d) Comparison retail proposals will be subject to a sequential order of preference of Primary Shopping Quarter, then edge of the Primary Shopping Quarter, then the rest of the City Centre. Proposals for comparison retail space located outside of the Primary Shopping Quarter will undergo a sequential assessment to demonstrate that there are not site opportunities within other sequentially preferable locations. Impact assessments will be in line with the requirements of Policy P8. e) It is recognised that in many cases the Primary Shopping Quarter will not be an appropriate location to direct bulky goods. Therefore, where this is demonstrated through a sequential test, bulky goods proposals will be directed to within the City Centre boundary, and then on to fringe areas beyond the City Centre boundary that are well connected by public transport corridors and that are not more than 300m from the City Centre boundary. Impact assessment will be in line with the requirements of Policy P8, f) Considering proposals for convenience retailing as follows: (i) Up to 200 sqm acceptable anywhere within the City Centre, (ii) 201 – 372 sqm sequential test to include the Prime Shopping Quarter and any local convenience centres if they fall within 300m walking distance, or if the proposal is not complementary to the function of office areas or entertainment or cultural destinations, including the waterfront, (iii) 373 – 1,499 sqm (gross) sequential test to include the Prime Shopping Quarter, all local convenience centres and those centres identified in Policy P1 that fall within a 5 minute inbound off-peak drive time, (iv) 1,500 sqm and above sequential test as per iii) above plus an impact assessment on the Prime Shopping Quarter and local convenience centres and centres identified in iii) above, (v) Aggregating floorspace together for the purposes of the above thresholds if more than one unit is proposed, such that where a realistic alternative opportunity exists in-centre in the first instance, or edge of centre in the second, or where the impact on the viability and vitality of the Prime Shopping Quarter, a centre or local convenience centres would be significantly adverse, proposals will be resisted. g) All other town centre uses will be supported within the City Centre boundary provided the use does not negatively impact on the amenity of neighbouring uses and that the proposal is in accordance with all other Core Strategy policies, h) A concentration of shops with ground floor frontages should be maintained in the Prime Shopping Quarter for reasons of vitality. Proposals for non-retail use should not result in the proportion of retail frontage length falling below 80% in primary frontages or below 50% in secondary frontages. Proposals for uses outside of the "A" class will not be permitted within designated ground floor frontages.

CITY CENTRE SOUTH

The north and south halves of Leeds City Centre are to be more effectively integrated and better connected. The areas of development opportunity south of the river will be prioritised for town centre uses (see list in Policy P2), particularly large scale office development, delivery of a new park, residential, cultural and leisure uses, and a strong pedestrian corridor to connect Crown Point Retail Park with the Prime Shopping Quarter and east/west links to Leeds Dock and the remainder of the lower Aire Valley. Within this priority, there is substantial opportunity for residential development. Large scale edge of centre development which would prejudice the achievement of this priority will be resisted. The suitability of this area for provision of comparison retail floorspace to be released for development will be considered (subject to the need being confirmed in a further retail study) only after the Victoria Gate retail development has completed and any subsequent excess retail vacancy in the remaining Prime Shopping Quarter has been taken up.

TOWN AND LOCAL CENTRE DESIGNATIONS

Town and local centres are designated in the following locations: Town Centres: 1. Armley 2. Bramley 3. Chapel Allerton 4. Cross Gates 5. Dewsbury Road 6. Farsley 7. Garforth 8. Guiseley, Otley Road 9. Halton 10. Harehills Lane 11. Headingley 12. Holt Park 13. Horsforth, Town Street 14. Hunslet 15. Kirkstall 16. Meanwood 17. Middleton 18. Moor Allerton 19. Morley 20. Oakwood 21. Otley 22. Pudsey 23. Richmond Hill* 24. Rothwell 25. Seacroft 26. Wetherby 27. Yeadon Higher Order Local Centres: 1. Beeston 2. Boston Spa 3. Chapeltown Road 4. Harehills Corner 5. Hollins Park 6. Horsforth, New Road Side 7. Kippax 8. Kirkstall Road 9. Middleton Park Circus 10. Montreal, Harrogate Road 11. Moortown Corner 12. Street Lane, Roundhay Lower Order Local Centres: 1. Alwoodley, King Lane 2. Beeston Hill 3. Burley Lodge 4. Butcher Hill 5. Chapeltown, Pudsey 6. Collingham Village Centre 7. Drighlington 8. East Ardsley 9. Guiseley, Oxford Road 10. Hawksworth Estates Centre 11. Holbeck 12. Horsforth, Station Road 13. Hyde Park Corner 14. Lincoln Green 15. Lower Wortley 16. Rawdon, Leeds Road 17. Royal Parks 18. Slaid Hill 19. Stanningley Bottom 20. Tommy Wass 21. Weetwood, Far Headingley

ACCEPTABLE USES IN AND ON THE EDGE OF TOWN CENTRES

Town centres offer shopping and services intended to meet weekly and day-to-day requirements. The uses set out below are acceptable in principle in and, subject to a sequential assessment, edge of centre, and will be directed towards the centres listed in Policy P1. • Shops, supermarkets and superstores, • Non-retail services, • Restaurants and cafes, drinking establishments and hot food takeaways, • Intensive leisure and cultural uses including theatres, museums, concert halls, cinemas, leisure centres, gyms and hotels, • Health care services, • Civic functions and community facilities, • Offices, • Housing is encouraged in centres above ground floor in the primary and secondary shopping frontages, or outside the shopping frontages, providing it would not compromise the function of the town centre.

ACCEPTABLE USES IN AND ON THE EDGE OF LOCAL CENTRES

Local Centres offer shopping and services that meet day-to-day requirements. The uses set out below are acceptable in principle in and, subject to a sequential assessment, edge of centre, and will be directed towards the centres listed in Policy P1: • Within higher order local centres small supermarkets would be acceptable in principle up to around 1,500 sqm gross internal floorspace. Within lower order local centres small food stores that are compatible with the size of the centre would be acceptable. These size thresholds are given as guidance and would be subject to local circumstances. A larger store may be appropriate if identified need cannot be met within a nearby town centre, • A basic range of facilities including shops, banks, health care facilities, public-facing Council services and community facilities that serve a local catchment area, • Restaurants, cafes and hot food takeaways, • Offices, • Housing is encouraged within local centres above ground floor or outside of the shopping frontages providing it maintains the vitality and viability of the retail area. Within lower order local centres, proposals for the change of use of existing retail units to non-retail units (including restaurants, cafes and take-away hot food shops) will be resisted where the vitality and viability of the centre to meet day to day local needs will be undermined and increase the need to travel, or where the proposal will lead to a concentration of non-retail uses in a locality which will detrimentally impact on the community. Proposals for such uses will be considered against the following criteria: (i) The cumulative impact of such development, particularly upon the amenity of the area and traffic generation, especially where concentrations of such uses already exist, (ii) Where a proposal involves evening opening, account will be taken of the proposal in relation to the proximity of the premises (and associated parking requirements), to nearby residential accommodation, the nature and character of the neighbourhood parade and existing noise levels, (iii) The availability of public transport, convenient on/off street car and cycle parking provision and impact on highway safety. Where there is insufficient car parking or where traffic movements are such as to create a traffic hazard, planning consent is likely to be refused.

SHOPPING PARADES AND SMALL SCALE STAND ALONE FOOD STORES SERVING LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOODS AND COMMUNITIES

Local service facilities, including extensions to existing retail uses to improve their viability, will be supported within shopping parades in residential areas, providing that they are of a size compatible with the scale and function of the shopping parade, do not compromise the main retail function of the parade to service day-to-day shopping requirements, and comply with other relevant planning policies. Proposals for stand alone or for small scale food stores up to 372 sqm gross within residential areas, will be acceptable in principle where there is no local centre or shopping parade within a 500 metre radius that is capable of accommodating the proposal within or adjacent to it. Consideration will also be taken of the number of existing small stores in the vicinity to avoid cumulative impact on parades and centres. Proposals for the change of use of existing retail units to non-retail units (including restaurants, cafes and take-away hot food shops) will be resisted where the vitality and viability of the range of shops to meet day to day local needs will be undermined and increase the need to travel or where the proposal will lead to a concentration of non-retail uses in a locality which will detrimentally impact on the community. Proposals for such uses will be considered against the following criteria: (i) The cumulative impact of such development, particularly upon the amenity of the area and traffic generation, especially where concentrations of such uses already exist, (ii) Where a proposal involves evening opening, account will be taken of the proposal in relation to the proximity of the premises (and associated parking requirements), to nearby residential accommodation, the nature and character of the neighbourhood parade and existing noise levels, (iii) The availability of public transport, convenient on/off street car and cycle parking provision and impact on highway safety. Where there is insufficient car parking or where traffic movements are such as to create a traffic hazard, planning consent is likely to be refused.

APPROACH TO ACCOMMODATING NEW FOOD STORES ACROSS LEEDS

(i) Food stores will be directed towards the town and local centres identified in Policy P1, (ii) Sites on the edge of town and local centres will be considered where there are no available, viable or suitable sites within centres, (iii) A number of town centres could perform more successfully as major locations for weekly shopping needs if they included investment in new food store provision and/ or redevelopment of existing facilities to expand their retail offer or expand their function. Appropriate provision within centre or on the edge of centre, will be encouraged, and will be supported where sites can be identified in the following locations: • Armley, • Chapel Allerton, • Cross Gates, • Dewsbury Road, • Farsley, • Headingley, • Holt Park, • Horsforth Town Street, • A new town centre is proposed in the Richmond Hill area, to support the provision at Hunslet, which is the main centre for the Aire Valley Eco-Settlement. The new centre will meet the local deficiency in convenience goods shopping and improve the provision of non-retail services and local facilities that cannot be met by Hunslet Town Centre. Delivery of this centre is subject to Policy P7, • A site for convenience retailing will be sought in the Holbeck area to meet an existing deficiency and complement wider regeneration initiatives.

APPROACH TO ACCOMMODATING NEW COMPARISON SHOPPING IN TOWN AND LOCAL CENTRES

(i) In addition to the Primary Shopping Quarter of the City Centre, the town and local centres identified in Policy P1 are acceptable locations for comparison goods providing that they are of a scale compatible with the size of the centre, (ii) Sites on the edge of town and local centres will be acceptable in principle where there are no suitable sites within centres.

THE CREATION OF NEW CENTRES

New centres may be required where there is need for additional convenience and local service facilities as a consequence of significant housing growth if existing centres are not capable of expansion to support the level of development proposed. The following criteria should all be met: (i) The proposed centre should not undermine the vitality and viability of the City Centre or any town or local centre, or any committed or planned investment within or on the edge of these centres, (ii) The proposed centre should have good pedestrian and cycle access, and good public transport links to the community it is intended to serve, (iii) The proposed centre should be of good design quality, in helping to maintain and enhance local distinctiveness, (iv) Based on the scale of the centre, the centre should have a mix in type and scale of facilities, services and shops, to reflect a range of uses as outlined in Policy P2 in order to ensure sustainable provision within the proposed centre.

Sequential and Impact Assessments for Main Town Centre Uses

Leeds City Council has adopted a centres first approach to main town centre uses as set out in Policy SP2. Proposals must accord with the following sequential and impact assessment requirements. Impact assessments should be proportionate to the level of development proposed. A) Proposals for up to 200 sqm extensions to existing units or up to 200 sqm change of use will not require sequential or impact assessments. This will not apply where the Council considers that a combination of conversions / extensions / new build is being used to attempt to avoid the below thresholds. Proposals for extensions or change of use to existing edge or out of centre units above 200 sqm will be required to conduct assessments based on the gross floorspace of the resulting unit in accordance with the thresholds set out below. B) Proposals for edge of centre or out of centre A1 within residential areas: Total gross size of built development | Sequential Assessment | Impact Assessment | Catchment Area (radius) Below 200 sqm | NO | NO | N/A 200 – 372 sqm | YES | NO | 500 metre walking 373 – 1,499 sqm | YES | NO | 5 minute inbound off peak drive time 1,500+ sqm: Convenience | YES | YES | 10 minute inbound off peak drive time 1,500+ sqm: Comparison | YES | YES | 10 minute inbound off peak drive time, and in addition the City Centre (and edge of), and the main centres of neighbouring authorities as appropriate depending on distance and the scale of the proposal C) Proposals for edge of centre or out of centre A1 outside residential areas: Total gross size of built development | Sequential Assessment | Impact Assessment | Catchment Area (radius) inbound off peak drive time 0 - 1,499 sqm | YES | NO | 5 minute 1,500+ sqm: Convenience | YES | YES | 10 minute 1,500+ sqm: Comparison | YES | YES | 10 minute inbound off peak drive time, and in addition the City Centre (and edge of), and the main centres of neighbouring authorities as appropriate depending on distance and the scale of the proposal D) Proposals for all other edge of centre or out of centre main town centre uses: Proposals for all other edge of centre or out of centre Class A, leisure or office uses. A sequential assessment will not be required for rural offices or other rural development with a floorspace of less than 500 sqm (see Policy EC2 iv). Total gross size of built development | Sequential Assessment | Impact Assessment | Within residential areas: Catchment Area (radius) inbound drive time | Outside residential area: Catchment Area (radius) inbound off peak drive time A2, A3, A4, A5 0-1,499 sqm | YES | NO | 5 minute | 10 minute and City Centre (including edge of) A2, A3, A4, A5 1,500+ sqm | YES | YES | 10 minute and City Centre | 15 minute and City Centre (including edge of) Main town centre uses except Class A 0-500 sqm | YES | NO | 5 minute | - Main town centre uses except Class A 501-1,499 sqm | YES | NO | 10 minute and City Centre (including edge of) | - Main town centre uses except Class A 1,500+ sqm | YES | YES | 15 minute and City Centre (including edge of) | - E) Proposals for more than one unit will generally be required to carry out assessments based on their total gross floor area, unless disaggregation is more relevant for the sequential test. Pre-application discussions with Council officers will be required to agree a catchment search area for proposals for a mix of A1 convenience and comparison units. F) All proposals will be required to accord with Policy T2 on accessibility standards.

HIERARCHY OF CENTRES AND SPATIAL APPROACH TO RETAILING, OFFICES, INTENSIVE LEISURE AND CULTURE

The Council supports a centres first approach supported by sequential and impact assessments. The Council will direct retailing, offices, intensive leisure and culture, and community development to the City Centre and designated town and local centres in order to promote their vitality and viability as the focus for shopping, employment, leisure, culture, and community services. Proposals which would undermine that approach will not be supported. The following hierarchy of centres is to be maintained to ensure that development is directed to the appropriate level of centre based on its scale and catchment; 1. The City Centre, 2. Town Centres, 3. Local Centres. The Leeds District currently contains a great variety of centres with different characteristics and history, and the need to maintain this local distinctiveness remains an overarching consideration.

ROLE OF LEEDS CITY CENTRE

The importance of the City Centre as an economic driver for the District and City Region will be maintained and enhanced by: (i) Promoting the City Centre's role as the regional capital for major new retail, leisure, hotel, culture and office development, (ii) Making the City Centre the main focus for office development in the District (focussed upon the West End, South Bank and Holbeck Urban Village), (iii) Valuing the contributions to the life, vitality and economy of the City Centre made by the Universities, Leeds General Infirmary, Major Museums and Arena, (iv) Comprehensively planning the redevelopment and re-use of vacant and under-used sites and buildings for mixed use development and new areas of public space (including a major City Centre Park in the South Bank Area), (v) Improving public transport links between the City Centre and the rest of the District, including Leeds Bradford International Airport, (vi) Managing flood risk issues comprehensively through supporting the construction of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme and use of other flood mitigation measures, (vii) Enhancing streets and creating a network of open and green spaces to make the City Centre more attractive, family friendly and easier for people to use and in consolidating and enhancing sense of place, (viii) Improving connections between the City Centre and adjoining neighbourhoods, (ix) Support the role of Leeds City Station, enhancing Leeds' role as a regional transport hub and supporting the potential for the integration of high speed rail, (x) Expanding city living with a broader housing mix (including family housing).

IMPROVING CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE CITY CENTRE AND NEIGHBOURING COMMUNITIES

To help provide and improve routes connecting the City Centre with adjoining neighbourhoods and improve connections within the City Centre in order to improve access to jobs and services, to encourage greater usage and make walking and cycling easier, safer and more attractive, new development will be expected: i) to make contributions (and contributions through the Community Infrastructure Levy once introduced), ii) if proposals are located in the line of or adjacent to a new route or a route planned for improvement, to make appropriate route enhancements or appropriate off site contributions.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE

All applications for new development which include provision of parking spaces will be required to meet the minimum standard of provision of electric vehicle charging points. This requires: i) Residential: 1 charging point per parking space and 1 charging point per 10 visitor spaces ii) Office/Retail/Industrial/Education: charging points for 10% of parking spaces ensuring that electricity infrastructure is sufficient to enable further points to be added at a later stage. iii) Motorway Service Stations: charging points for 10% of parking spaces ensuring that electricity infrastructure is sufficient to enable further points to be added at a later stage iv) Petrol Filling Stations: provision of fast charge facilities.

TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT

To complement the provision of new infrastructure the Council will support the following management priorities: (i) Develop and provide tailored, interactive, readily available information and support that encourages and incentivises more sustainable travel choices on a regular basis, (ii) Sustainable travel proposals including travel planning measures for employers and schools. Further details are provided in the Travel Plan SPD and the Sustainable Education Travel Strategy, (iii) Parking policies controlling the use and supply of car parking across the City: a) To ensure adequate parking for shoppers and visitors to support the health and vitality of the City and Town Centres, b) Delivering strategic park and ride for the city which supports the City Centre vision and provides greater traveller choice, c) To support wider transport strategy objectives for sustainable travel and to minimise congestion during peak periods, d) Limiting the supply of commuter parking in areas of high public transport accessibility, such as the City Centre.

ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND NEW DEVELOPMENT

New development should be located in accessible locations that are adequately served by existing or programmed highways, by public transport and with safe and secure access for pedestrians, cyclists and people with impaired mobility. (i) In locations where development is otherwise considered acceptable new infrastructure may be required on/off site to ensure that there is adequate provision for access from the highway network, by public transport and for cyclists, pedestrians and people with impaired mobility, which will not create or materially add to problems of safety, environment or efficiency on the highway network, (ii) Developer contributions may be required for, or towards, improvements to the off site highway and the strategic road network, and to pedestrian, cycle and public transport provision. These will be secured where appropriate through Section 106 Agreements and/or the Community Infrastructure Levy, and by planning conditions, (iii) Significant trip generating uses will need to provide Transport Assessments/ Transport Statements in accordance with national guidance, (iv) Travel plans will be required to accompany planning applications in accordance with national thresholds and the Travel Plans SPD, (v) Parking provision will be required for cars, motorcycles and cycles in accordance with current guidelines.

TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PRIORITIES

The delivery of an integrated transport strategy for Leeds will be supported, which includes a range of infrastructure improvements and other interventions in accordance with the objectives of West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan 3 and the Leeds City Region Transport Strategy (2009). The Infrastructure Delivery Plan and the Key Diagram give further details of the scope of these improvements/interventions. These infrastructure improvements/interventions are also supported by the demand management measures outlined in Policy T1. Spatial Priorities (i) Public transport improvements for the bus and rail networks (including supporting the role of Leeds City Station, enhancing Leeds' role as a regional transport hub, and new rail stations where appropriate) and investment in a rapid transit system to increase radial route capacity to the City and Town Centres and to improve reliability together with investment in the provision of Park and Ride facilities, (ii) Surface access improvements to support growth of Leeds Bradford International Airport (see also Spatial Policy 12), (iii) Targeted highway schemes to alleviate congestion and assist improved connectivity for local and strategic orbital movements, and the strategic road network, (iv) Expansion of the Leeds Core Cycle Network to improve local connectivity, (v) Improved facilities for pedestrians to promote safety and accessibility, particularly connectivity between the 'Rim' and the City Centre, (vi) Measures to deliver safer roads, (vii) The provision of infrastructure to serve new development (including within regeneration areas defined in Spatial Policy 4 and urban extensions), (viii) Supporting the development of infrastructure for new low carbon technologies, (ix) Transport improvements to connect to and from and within the Aire Valley Leeds development area (see Spatial Policy 5), (x) Supporting High Speed Rail as a longer term intervention to serve Leeds and the wider City Region by providing a substantial enhancement to inter-city connectivity, (xi) Provision for people with impaired mobility to improve accessibility, Routes designated in the emerging transport strategy or programmed works will be protected from development. Current proposals are identified on the Key Diagram, the Leeds Transport Strategy Map (Map 9) and saved UDP Policies.

MANAGING THE GROWTH OF LEEDS BRADFORD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The continued development of Leeds Bradford International Airport will be supported to enable it to fulfil its role as an important regional airport subject to: (i) Provision of major public transport infrastructure (such as Tram Train) and surface access improvements at agreed passenger levels, (ii) Agreement of a surface access strategy with identified funding and trigger points, (iii) Environmental assessment and agreed plans to mitigate adverse environmental effects, where appropriate, (iv) The management of any local impacts and implementation issues, including visual and highway issues.