Decision details

The Cabinet Member Housing and Safety introduced the report and explained that following the success of St Paul’s Phase One Cabinet had mandated CBH to achieve the best available deal in negotiations with the proposed developers for St Paul’s Phase 2, Cakebridge Place and the Garage Sites redevelopment. 

He reported that the Housing and Communities Agency (HCA) has now confirmed that a grant would be made available to CBH provided that a start on the garage sites could be achieved before the end of March 2013. CBH, in discussion with CBC, has agreed that this is achievable. It was therefore proposed that progress be advanced on the garage sites ahead of the balance of the intended programme, i.e. St Paul’s Phase 2 and Cakebridge Place. The Cabinet Member Housing and Safety would be taking an imminent delegated decision with regard to ownership of the site.

The Cabinet Member Housing and Safety highlighted that recommendations 3 and 4 of the report had been amended to reflect that Cabinet was making recommendations to Council.

When asked whether the question of ownership of new build properties was still outstanding, Grahame Lewis, Executive Director, explained that this delegated decision would be taken the following day. Bob Dagger, Director, CBH confirmed that in order to be eligible for receipt of the HCA grant CBH ownership of the site was required.

There remained complications with regard St Paul’s Phase 2 and Cakebridge Place developments as outlined in the report and thus it was proposed that the garage sites development decision be taken in advance. It was confirmed that Cakebridge Place and St Pauls’s would therefore be brought back to Cabinet.

The Leader of the Council welcomed the HCA grant which would facilitate a further provision of affordable housing provision in the town.

RESOLVED THAT

1. the transfer of the four garage sites (at Brook Road, Burma Avenue, Imjin Road and Malvern Street shown edged red on the plans appended to this Report) to CBH at nil consideration be approved.

2. CBH be authorised to enter into a JCT Design and Build Contract with Lovell Partnerships Ltd.

3. Council be recommended to source loan finance for the development of the garage sites from the Public Works Loans Board (PWLB) on a 40 year annuity basis and then advance the funds to CBH. 

4. Council be recommended to support the provision of development finance and in due course access to PWLB funding for the long term finance required by the scheme.