Issue - items at meetings - New Homes for Neighbourhoods - Small Site Strategy

58.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Environment Development and Housing on New Homes for Neighbourhoods, Small Site Strategy. The report was presented by the Housing Programme Manager.

58.2    The Chair thanked the officer for the report, and said that it was important that these proposals be taken forward as soon as possible and asked that a timeline be provided. The officer agreed and said that if the proposals were approved a full project plan would be provided.

58.3    Councillor Peltzer Dunn suggested that there be four competitions, one for each site.

58.4    Councillor Peltzer Dunn noted that the projected cost for the 27 units seemed high. The officer said that the 27 units related to the garage sites, and at the moment the cost was anticipated to be £3.6m but that may change as the costing was done last year. A more detailed model and costs would come to a future meeting of the Committee.

58.5    Councillor Mears was concerned at the speed at which things were progressing, and said that these proposals were first made in 2010 and nothing appeared to have been delivered since then.

58.6    Councillor Wells was surprised that there had been a lack of interest with contractors to develop the smaller sites, and suggested that priority be given to local builders to undertake the work.

58.7    Councillor Fitch said that if there were smaller sites which financially were not suitable for development by a commercial contractor, that those sites be set aside for self builds. Councillor Farrow supported that idea and said that the city had a good record of providing sites for self building. The Chair agreed.

58.8    Councillor Farrow said that Passivhaus homes were a great scheme, but he had concerns on the cost of construction. The Chair advised that many housing associations had erected these buildings and they had all been completed on budget.

58.9    Councillor Bowden said he welcomed the idea of a RIBA supported design competition, and hoped that any wining designs would not fail when it was considered by Planners. He suggested that it might be useful to have a Planning Officer on the panel of judges.

58.10 RESOLVED: That the Housing Committee agreed to

(i)        Delegate authority to the Executive Director Environment Development and Housing (in consultation with the Executive Director of Finance and Resources) to enter into the necessary contract(s) to secure the design and build of housing on small site(s) following a RIBA supported design competition as described in paragraphs 3.8 to 3.12 in the report.

(ii)     Approves the Pilot 2 proposal set out in the report for development of a small site by a housing co-operative represented by Co-operative Housing in Brighton & Hove.

(iii)    Approves the Pilot 3 proposal set out in the report for the design and build of housing on small site(s) using Passivhaus principles.