Youth charity 'reassured' as flats plan stalls

MAP Charity is based in the Grade II listed Hope Foundry on Mabgate

A youth charity and music venue has described a council’s move to defer a decision on a neighbouring development as a "ray of hope".

Music and Arts Production (MAP) Charity, which supports vulnerable young people by offering art and music workshops, is based in the Grade II listed Hope Foundry on Mabgate in Leeds.

Cheyne Capital submitted plans to build 310 flats next door, but more than 4,500 people signed a petition against the move, while Leeds City Council received 160 letters of objection.

Councillors voted this week to defer a decision on the application until further information could be provided.

MAP, which partially funds its charity work through its electronic music event Cosmic Slop, said it feared noise complaints from future residents could put its activities at risk.

Labour MPs Hilary Benn and Alex Sobel backed the petition against the plans.

At a meeting of Leeds City Council’s planning panel on Thursday, MAP co-founder Charlie Stobbard said the development on Mabgate could “ultimately end our activities for good”.

“We feel unheard and ignored as part of this process,” she said.

“Noise complaints will end up in the licensing committee and if we lose the right to operate events, MAP will be unable to generate enough income to care for our heritage assets and deliver our education programme."

During the planning panel meeting, councillors voted to defer the decision. The panel will meet again on 10 October.

If it went ahead, three apartment buildings of up to 10 storeys would be built with the apartments facing MAP to have specially designed balconies called winter gardens to provide noise protection.

Cheyne Capital planning consultant Tim Wareing described the development as a “key regeneration project” that would start quickly if approved.

He told the planning committee: “We’ve worked very hard with officers to get to a scheme that is compliant and appropriate for the location.”

Councillors Katie Dye and Peter Carlill recommended a welcome pack for future residents to advise them of MAP’s activities and reduce noise complaints.

Cosmic Slop has visits from DJs such as Floating Points

MAP manager Tom Smith said the organisation was not against the development but wanted developers to work with them to avoid noise complaints and safeguarding risks for the children it works with.

“I don’t want them to build one less flat – we want flats to be built so we can be part of a full community,” he said.

“But there has to be acoustic barriers - at the moment there’s too much grey area.”

As the decision was deferred, Mr Smith said: "The outcome of the meeting is a ray of hope.

"The councillors have been really supportive – and they’ve been sticking their necks out for us. We feel greatly reassured."

Cosmic Slop is a popular electronic club night with visiting DJs such as Floating Points – also known as Samuel Shepherd.

Mr Smith said: “Cosmic Slop uses culture and music to highlight social issues, because music without commenting on social issues is meaningless.

“We teach kids the first steps of music production and we repeat that education process throughout the building, with film and editing and other arts.”

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