Latest news with #DanCohen
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
New Lord Mayor of Leeds says role is 'unbelievable honour'
The new Lord Mayor of Leeds has said the position is an "unbelievable honour".Conservative councillor Dan Cohen will be the 131st incumbent from Tuesday and will serve until May 2025. He was born in Alwoodley and has represented the ward as a councillor since 2011. Cohen said his "overarching ambition" for his 12-month stint was to meet as many people helping their communities across the city to say "thank you and let them know they are appreciated". The role of Lord Mayor is to act as an ambassador for the city, meeting with citizens and communities and welcoming visiting dignitaries from home and abroad. In contrast to the Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, they are not an elected mayor and therefore have no influence over policy and decision making. The role means chairing some of the council's big political meetings including the budget, so requires the holder to be apolitical for the said he was "quite comfortable with the fact that during this year I can park my politics at the door and be there to serve the whole community. "The whole city of Leeds. We're an amazing city, and I will do my best to do us all justice." During their term, it is customary for the Lord Mayor to choose a charity to Mencap is the new mayor's selected good cause. He said during his term in office he wanted to "shine a light on the incredible work they do" and help raise funds for will be joined in the role by his wife Elayna, who will be the Lady a big Leeds United fan he said he "couldn't choose" whether he was looking forward to his year as Lord Mayor or watching his football team in the Premier League said "They both have a really special place. The ability for me to serve my city where I've grown up is just an unbelievable honour."To see Leeds in the Premier League back where we belong is just a delight beyond words." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Fans weigh up pros and cons of redeveloped stadium
Leeds United intend to submit the club's formal planning application to Leeds City Council this summer for the redevelopment of Elland Road into a 53,000 capacity stadium. The hybrid application is full and detailed for the West Stand whilst an outline for the North Stand at this stage. The former is expected to open in 2028 with a rise from 8,000 to 17,750 seats and the latter by nearly five-thousand to 15,300 in to the architect the design will encourage positive behavioural change of spectators to arrive earlier and stay longer to reduce congestion and improve the match day experience. A recent pre-application proposal for the alterations was backed by the Council's City Plans Panel with several caveats. Concerns over car parking, litter, nuisance and flooding were raised. Councillor Andrew Scopes, who is a trustee to the Leeds United Foundation and councillor Dan Cohen, a self-confessed Leeds United supporter, both recognised the major benefits of the project to the city as a whole but say local residents must be looked that in mind Leeds United have begun to hold a series of community roadshows where Lucinda Yeadon, a former councillor, will ask residents to feedback their views and concerns to the club. At Tuesday night's drop-in event at Holbeck Working Men's Club residents did just that."It looks really good and obviously we want Leeds United to do well," Neil told BBC Radio Leeds."I'm not actually a football supporter but I live in the area. On matchdays we do have to work around the traffic in terms of timing when we go out or go shopping. "So anything which will encourage more people to use public transport or make more public pedestrian accessibility from the city centre, especially with the increase in numbers they are planning for the stadium, would be beneficial for the area. We want the club to be successful and I'm pleased its going up into the Premier League."Another Beeston resident, who asked to remain anonymous, added: "I am very supportive of the redevelopment plans for the stadium. "We are truly delighted to see such a well thought out and elegant design. It looks amazing and really reflects the stature of Leeds United."However, they warned they would be "massively affected". "Everything is going to change from the view to the day to day experience of living here," they added. "It's a substantial rise in footfall, traffic and noise on matchday which will have an impact. "Most importantly we'd like the club to engage more directly with those of us who live here. "The ideal outcome would be a more consistent collaboration between the club and Leeds City Council especially when it comes to traffic management. In my view, as a current concept, its inadequate and the new one has not convinced me it will resolve the issues we face. "One other improvement would for the club to provide access to public toilets before the match for example. This would help to reduce some of the anti social behaviour we are currently experiencing. "I just hope those impacts can be managed thoughtfully really with the club and the City Council working closely with residents to find practical solutions and to maintain a good quality of life in our area here. Make us feel like we're part of the process."The next plans panel meeting of council members is scheduled for 3 July when there will be a report on the consultation can hear local residents reacting to Leeds United's plans to redevelop the club's Elland Road stadium Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Flats plan paused due to lack of affordable rentals
A decision on whether 164 flats can be built at a former factory site has been delayed by councillors after the developer said no affordable rentals could be included. Plans for the 18-storey scheme at Sayner Lane in Hunslet were deferred by Leeds City Council's planning panel. The group was told discount homes worth £5.7m could be provided under local planning policy, but developer Countrylarge Ltd said it was not financially viable. The hearing was also told a contribution to green spaces would also be reduced, from almost £207,000 to £31,800. David Blackburn, Green Party member for Farnley and Wortley, said the city was facing a shortage of affordable homes. He said: "We have got a crisis in certain sectors of the housing market and this does nothing to address that." The meeting was told the project would be subject to a "late-stage review", with an affordable housing contribution required if there was an excess profit. The district valuation service confirmed the scheme could only be delivered with no affordable homes, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Concerns were also raised the development could cause traffic problems because just three parking spaces were included. Dan Cohen, Conservative member for Alwoodley, told the meeting: "I think this is hugely problematic. For me, three is just too few." The plans would see 67 one-bed, 80 two-bedroom and 17-three bedroom apartments built at the site, a former glass factory. Councillors unanimously voted to defer the planning application at the meeting at Leeds Civic Hall. The developer is to be asked to revisit the green space contribution and consider design changes to allow for affordable housing. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Leeds City Council
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Flats plan paused due to lack of affordable rentals
A decision on whether 164 flats can be built at a former factory site has been delayed by councillors after the developer said no affordable rentals could be included. Plans for the 18-storey scheme at Sayner Lane in Hunslet were deferred by Leeds City Council's planning panel. The group was told discount homes worth £5.7m could be provided under local planning policy, but developer Countrylarge Ltd said it was not financially viable. The hearing was also told a contribution to green spaces would also be reduced, from almost £207,000 to £31,800. David Blackburn, Green Party member for Farnley and Wortley, said the city was facing a shortage of affordable homes. He said: "We have got a crisis in certain sectors of the housing market and this does nothing to address that." The meeting was told the project would be subject to a "late-stage review", with an affordable housing contribution required if there was an excess profit. The district valuation service confirmed the scheme could only be delivered with no affordable homes, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Concerns were also raised the development could cause traffic problems because just three parking spaces were included. Dan Cohen, Conservative member for Alwoodley, told the meeting: "I think this is hugely problematic. For me, three is just too few." The plans would see 67 one-bed, 80 two-bedroom and 17-three bedroom apartments built at the site, a former glass factory. Councillors unanimously voted to defer the planning application at the meeting at Leeds Civic Hall. The developer is to be asked to revisit the green space contribution and consider design changes to allow for affordable housing. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Leeds City Council
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Hunslet flats plan paused due to lack of affordable rentals
A decision on whether 164 flats can be built at a former factory site has been delayed by councillors after the developer said no affordable rentals could be for the 18-storey scheme at Sayner Lane in Hunslet were deferred by Leeds City Council's planning group was told discount homes worth £5.7m could be provided under local planning policy, but developer Countrylarge Ltd said it was not financially hearing was also told a contribution to green spaces would also be reduced, from almost £207,000 to £31,800. David Blackburn, Green Party member for Farnley and Wortley, said the city was facing a shortage of affordable said: "We have got a crisis in certain sectors of the housing market and this does nothing to address that."The meeting was told the project would be subject to a "late-stage review", with an affordable housing contribution required if there was an excess district valuation service confirmed the scheme could only be delivered with no affordable homes, according to the Local Democracy Reporting were also raised the development could cause traffic problems because just three parking spaces were Cohen, Conservative member for Alwoodley, told the meeting: "I think this is hugely problematic. For me, three is just too few."The plans would see 67 one-bed, 80 two-bedroom and 17-three bedroom apartments built at the site, a former glass unanimously voted to defer the planning application at the meeting at Leeds Civic developer is to be asked to revisit the green space contribution and consider design changes to allow for affordable housing. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
