Decision details

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report provided an update on the new build housing programme for 2022-2032.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing

      i.          Approved the recommendations from the Buro Happold Report, and agreed these should be included in the Updated Sustainable Housing Design Guide so that all council developments will be required to:

a.    Target Net Zero Carbon from 2030.

b.    Target Passivhaus certification from 2021.

c.    Attain Sustainability targets for water, overheating, post-occupancy evaluation (POE), Electric vehicle charging, car parking and biodiversity.

 

To attain this will require the adoption of:

d.    the Sustainability Roadmap to Net Zero Carbon.

e.    the decision-making process for sustainability standards.

f.      the seven principles of sustainability.

 

     ii.          Approved the following delivery strategy:

a.    Pursue a mix of delivery strategies to deliver the 10-year programme.

b.    The majority of the programme to be delivered through CIP.

c.    A programme of smaller schemes to be delivered through design and build contracts.

d.    Purchase of affordable units from developers delivered as a result of S106 agreements.

e.    Consideration of other opportunities which may arise for joint ventures or development agreements with other partners.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Housing Development Agency.

 

The Strategic Director and Head of Housing Development Agency said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.          Circa two thousand homes were being built to the Passivhaus standard.

     ii.          National bodies and other local authorities were supportive of the standard but were not building on similar scale schemes to Cambridge as the risks were higher to achieve targets.

 

The Committee resolved by 5 votes to 0 (with 3 abstentions) to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.