Agenda item

Construction of Northern Service Road (East), sections of the Movement Spine (East) and Hull Road Link Road (South) with associated pedestrian and cycle routes [Heslington Ward] [Site Visit]

The Committee considered a major reserved matters application, submitted by the University of York, for the construction of the Northern Service Road (East), sections of the Movement Spine (East) and Hull Road Link Road (South) with associated pedestrian and cycle routes.

Officers updated and circulated the following:

·        Photomontage showing indicative route of the Hull Road Link Road, viewed from the A64.

·        Plan of the Northern Service road showing levels.

·        Concerns had been raised regarding screening of the link road and it was therefore proposed to include an additional condition to cover this. It was confirmed that the University had agreed to bring forward their proposals for landscaping/tree planting in this area.

·        Removal of proposed Condition 3 relating to the s278 agreement to provide signalised crossing points and associated footways/cycle paths and its inclusion in application reference 10/02641/FULM (the previous application considered).

·        Confirmation that discussions had been held between Officers and the University to ensure that the area between Langwith College and the sports village would be seeded as an interim measure, pending receipt of future reserved matter applications for the site.

Representations were received in support from the applicants agent. She referred to the circulated plans and confirmed that this was the next stage of the infrastructure for the site detailing the various elements of the application. She confirmed the necessity for the roads elevation to prevent the need to excavate a previous land fill site. She went onto outline the landscaping proposals for the campus, which would provide a parkland setting.

Members went on to question a number of details including:

• Landscaping issues at the eastern corner of the site questioning details of timescales, implementation and degree of mature planting.
• Cycle/pedestrian route access to sports village.
• Bus frequency. Confirmation that negotiations were still taking place with operators.
• Screening proposals so as to prevent distraction to drivers on A64.
• Details of barrier restrictions to prevent unauthorised access on the movement spine road.
• Design of shared pedestrian/cycle access crossing point to ensure the safety of users. Confirmation that details were yet to come forward however officers confirmed that conditions would be imposed to ensure the safety of all users.
• Details of bus drop off/parking areas and bus shelters.
• Erections and siting of entry barriers on the Northern Service Road.

Following further discussion it was

RESOLVED:             That the application be approved subject to the conditions listed in the report and the following amended and additional conditions:

Amended Condition 2: The deletion of the words ‘Prior to commencement of any works..’ and their replacement with ‘Prior to the opening of the northern service road …’.

Removal of draft Condition 3.

Additional Condition: Within three months of commencement of development details of landscaping/screening to the section of the link road between (a) Grimston Bar Park and Ride site in the north and (b) the car park of the proposed sports village in the south, shown on drg. 30080-P-367/M, shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority and approved in writing. The scheme, which shall show the number, species, height and position of trees and shrubs shall be implemented within six months of the opening of the northern service road. Any trees or plants which within a period of five years from the completion of the development die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased, shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of a similar size and species, unless alternatives are agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

REASON:                  In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposal, subject to the conditions listed, would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance, with particular reference to provision of a new campus, sustainability, design, drainage, landscape and transport issues.  The application therefore complies with policies GP1, GP4a, GP9, ED9, and GP15a, of the City of York Local Plan Deposit Draft.