Issue - items at meetings - New Homes for Neighbourhoods - Final Scheme Approval

Report of the Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached) together with an extract from the meeting of the Housing & New Homes Committee held on 17 June 2015 (to follow).

32.1       The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing in relation to New Homes for Neighbourhoods – Final Scheme Approval – Findon Road and garage sites update; the report had also been considered by the Housing & New Homes Committee on 17 June 2015. The report focused on development proposals for the site at Findon Road, Whitehawk (former library site) and updated the Committee on the progress of four sites being delivered by the Council’s development – the Guinness Partnership.

32.2       Councillor Meadows spoke to the report in her capacity as the Chair of the Housing & New Homes Committee and explained that the plot at Findon Road had twice been offered out on the open market with no interest. The costs of the scheme benchmarked well, and the new homes provided would be large and fit for purpose – the scheme would also provide a new substation. The buildings would have solar panels on the grid to provide the Council with income which would be passed onto the tenants to reduce their costs for household bills. Councillor Meadows provided assurance that the Housing & New Homes Committee would monitor the scheme to ensure it came in on time.

32.3       The Chair noted that the Findon Road site was located in his, and Councillor Mitchell’s, ward and had been empty for a number of years despite the need for new homes in the area. He commended the work of the Neighbourhood and Regeneration Team – in particular their success at involving residents.

32.4       Councillor G. Theobald noted there had been concerns raised at the Housing & New Homes Committee in relation to the costs per unit; whilst the Committee were asked to approve the land sale and the budget provision he asked for assurance that the cost per unit was reasonable. In response the Head of City Regeneration explained that there were some anomalies at the site in relation to ground works and changes in levels; there were also higher costs associated with the quality of the design that the scheme sought to achieve. With all this in mind the cost per unit compared favourable, and this was benchmarked by a quality surveyor who provided assurance around value for money. All of this was reported to the project board which involved local Councillors.

32.5       In response to Councillor Wealls it was explained that the developer had already been procured early on and this would be Westridge who were also undertaking the renovation works to Hove Town Hall.

32.6       The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote, and Councillors: G. Theobald, Wealls, Janio and A. Norman asked that there vote of abstention be recorded.

i.             Approve that the land at Findon Road, former Whitehawk library site is appropriated to the HRA for a capital receipt of £940,000 for planning purposes and the development of new housing.

ii.            Approve a budget of £14.1 million for the Findon Road scheme in the HRA Capital Programme which will be financed through a mixture of unsupported borrowing and retained Right to Buy capital receipts.

iii.           That the site at the former Whitehawk Community Complex, Whitehawk Road, Brighton, BN2 5FP (referred to in this report as the former library site at Findon Road, Whitehawk) is appropriated for planning purposes and the development of new housing

iv.           That the sitesat 4-7, 10 and 15-20 Kensington Street, Brighton, BN4 1AJis appropriated for planning purposes and the development of new housing.

32.1       The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing in relation to New Homes for Neighbourhoods – Final Scheme Approval – Findon Road and garage sites update; the report had also been considered by the Housing & New Homes Committee on 17 June 2015. The report focused on development proposals for the site at Findon Road, Whitehawk (former library site) and updated the Committee on the progress of four sites being delivered by the Council’s development agent – the Guinness Partnership.

32.2       Councillor Meadows spoke to the report in her capacity as the Chair of the Housing & New Homes Committee and explained that the plot at Findon Road had twice been offered out on the open market with no interest. The costs of the scheme benchmarked well, and the new homes provided would be large and fit for purpose – the scheme would also provide a new substation. The buildings would have solar panels on the grid to provide the Council with income which would be passed onto the tenants to reduce their costs for household bills. Councillor Meadows provided assurance that the Housing & New Homes Committee would monitor the scheme to ensure it came in on time.

32.3       The Chair noted that the Findon Road site was located in his Ward, and Councillor Mitchell’s, ward and had been empty for a number of years despite the need for new homes in the area. He commended the work of the Neighbourhood and Regeneration Team – in particular their success at involving residents.

32.4       Councillor G. Theobald noted there had been concerns raised at the Housing & New Homes Committee in relation to the costs per unit; whilst the Committee were asked to approve the land sale and the budget provision he asked for assurance that the cost per unit was reasonable. In response the Head of City Regeneration explained that there were some anomalies at the site in relation to ground works and changes in levels; there were also higher costs associated with the quality of the design that the scheme sought to achieve. With all this in mind the cost per unit compared favourable, and this was benchmarked by a quality surveyor whom provided assurance around value for money. All of this was reported to the project board which involved local Councillors.

32.5       In response to Councillor Wealls it was explained that the developer had already been procured early on, this would be Westridge who were also undertaking the renovation works to Hove Town Hall.

32.6       The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote, and Councillors: G. Theobald, Wealls, Janio and A. Norman asked that their vote of abstention be recorded.

32.7       RESOLVED – That the Committee

1)        Approve that the land at Findon Road, former Whitehawk library site is appropriated to the HRA for a capital receipt of £940,000 for planning purposes and the development of new housing.

2)        Approve a budget of £14.1 million for the Findon Road scheme in the HRA Capital Programme which will be financed through a mixture of unsupported borrowing and retained Right to Buy capital receipts.

3)        That the site at the former Whitehawk Community Complex, Whitehawk Road, Brighton, BN2 5FP (referred to in this report as the former library site at Findon Road, Whitehawk) is appropriated for planning purposes and the development of new housing.

4)        That the sites at 4-7, 10 and 15-20 Kensington Street, Brighton, BN4 1AJ is appropriated for planning purposes and the development of new housing.