Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth is attached.

Councillor Morris introduced the report seeking Cabinet approval to procure a multidisciplinary design team to undertake a detailed site appraisal, scheme design, planning assessment and viability testing. The proposed scheme would comprise approximately 16 one-bedroom social rent apartments, specifically designed to enable older residents to live independently for longer while addressing an identified local housing need at the Elms in Whitefield.  The Elms is a vacant Council owned brownfield site on Elms Close, Whitefield.

Cabinet have previously approved the disposal of the site to a strategic delivery partner/member of the Council’s Registered Provider PartnershipFramework for the development of an independent living scheme for people aged 55 and over, as direct delivery by the Council was not considered financially viable at that time. Since then, updated feasibility work and cost assessments have identified a potential opportunity for the Council to deliver the scheme directly. This change is primarily due to increased Homes England grant funding and the availability of retained Right to Buy receipts and affordable housing commuted sums.

Councillor Rydeheard queried the housing stock, will this count towards the number of properties the Council can allocate to?

Councillor Morris advised that this is a development of 16 properties which will be removed from the target but as it is a small site it won’t make a huge difference to the number of properties required.

The Leader confirmed that this won’t be a game changer in terms of the sites required for Places for Everyone but shows our commitment to using brownfield sites first.

Councillor Rydeheard highlighted the cost range of the contract that has been set and queried what procurement process has been followed and whether the contact is for a start to finish service. 

Councillor Morris confirmed that the contract hasn’t been awarded this report is to seek approval for a budget in that range to prepare for a contract.  There will be a procurement process likely to be using a framework for this.

Councillor Birchmore confirmed her support for this item, citing the use of brownfield sites and building our own properties. 

Decision(s):

Cabinet:

-       Approved the principle of progressing proposals for the redevelopment of The Elms through a direct delivery approach, as set out within this report. 

-       Authorised the procurement of a multidisciplinary design team, via a compliant public sector framework to undertake the detailed appraisal, design development, planning and viability work required to assess the feasibility and deliverability of the proposed scheme. 

-       Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Place and Executive Director of Finance to oversee delivery of this stage of the project, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth.

-       Noted that if the proposed scheme proves to be viable, deliverable and capable of securing planning consent, a further report and funding strategy will be presented to Cabinet seeking approval to progress to the next phase of development. 

-       Agreed that, should direct delivery prove to be unviable, the site may be disposed of to a strategic delivery  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55