Decision details

The report provided an update on the Strategic Partnership, two redevelopment projects and the Council’s Portfolio approach to development. Officers were required to come back to Cabinet if budget increases were required for proposed developments. Secondly, the 2024 HSC Report on the Council’s Portfolio approach to the Council’s ten-year development programme required a formal update on progress

The Cabinet resolved to note:

 

i.               That the council were one of only three councils outside London that were successful in securing a Strategic Partnership with Homes England winning £96m. Winning the bid also unlocks £584m funding previously committed by the council to deliver 1,400 council homes with at least 60% of these at social rent. This programme represents the biggest investment in social housing in a generation and will significantly increase availability of social housing in Cambridge.

 

ii.               Once the Strategic Partnership contract is signed the most immediate use of that funding will be allocated to fund 11 of the 45 council homes (11 at social rent) at Fanshawe, 72 council homes (44 at social rent) at Hanover & Princess and 44 council homes (all social rent) at Ekin Road.

 

iii.               The council’s Portfolio Approach to Housing Delivery is currently delivering 56% affordable (Council) homes across its sites once Homes England funding is taken into account.

 

That Cabinet approves the following recommendations in addition to the 25/42/Cab Cabinet Report on 21/10/2025 - Cabinet (Item 42) Cambridge North Framework for Change:

 

The Cabinet unanimously resolved to:

 

i.           Approve the expansion of the Kingsway, Brackley Close, Rutland Close and Verulam Way redevelopment, to include additional Council properties at 2-48 (evens) Brackley Close and 2-48 (evens) Rutland Close.

 

    ii.         Approve the increase of Arbury Court and Kingsway redevelopment project budget from to £81,200,000 to £103,200,000 to account for the increase in site boundary, and a projected increase in affordable (council) homes delivered, compared with the existing project boundary, approved in October 2025. This increase in budget to £103,200,000 to cover all site assembly, construction costs, professional fees and further associated fees with the total budget to be drawn down from the sum already approved for investment in new homes and not yet allocated. This will increase the Affordable Homes Agreement to purchase 245 homes from the council’s development partnership with Hill - Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP).

 

   iii.         With Homes England Strategic Partnership funding secured by the council, approves, with effect from October 26^th,2026, that:

 

a)   Council tenants will be offered emergency banding status, with leaseholders and freeholders able to sell their properties in accordance with the council’s regeneration policy.

 

b)   the issue of Home Loss and Disturbance payments to qualifying Council occupiers and Home Loss, Basic Loss and Disturbance payments to qualifying owners at the addresses at Arbury Court, Kingsway, Brackley Close, Verulam Way and Rutland Close

 

as approved in Cabinet Report on 21/10/2025 - Cabinet (Item 42) Cambridge North Framework for Change, and the additional addresses detailed in this report.

 

iv.               Approve to add the above addresses in I to the existing approvals in the cabinet report II to V and VII to XIII in section 2.1 of the Cabinet Report on 21/10/2025 - Cabinet (Item 42) Cambridge North Framework for Change https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/documents/s70770/Item%206.%20North%20Cambridge%20Cabinet%20Report.pdf . These are approvals on variations to the scheme, to be developed through Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) or through an alternative procurement route, land transfer, CPO and Demolition Notices:

 

II.    Authorise the Assistant Director, Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for housing to approve variations to the scheme including the number of units and mix of property types, sizes and tenure.

 

III.   Delegate authority be given to the Cabinet Member for Housing in conjunction with the Assistant Director, Development to enable the sites at Arbury Court, Kingsway, parts of Brackley Close, Rutland Close and Verulam Way to be developed through Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) or through an alternative procurement route subject to a value for money assessment to be carried out on behalf of the Council.

 

IV. Authorise, subject to III, the Assistant Director in consultation with the Cabinet member for Housing to approve the transfer of the land for Arbury Court, Kingsway, parts of Brackley Close, Rutland Close and Verulam Way shown edged red on the attached plan in Appendix 3 and 5 to a third party for redevelopment. The transfer will be at a value provided by a further independent valuation.

 

V Authorise, subject to III, the Assistant Director of Development in consultation with the Cabinet member for Housing to approve an Affordable Housing Agreement with a third party for the purchase of 206 affordable homes. This agreement will be at a value provided by an independent valuer.

 

VII  Delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Development to make a Compulsory Purchase Order in respect of any leasehold interests at Kingsway, Brackley Close and Arbury Court and any of the 5 freehold households on Rutland Close and Verulam Way identified for possible redevelopment that cannot be acquired by private treaty within a reasonable timescale and at a reasonable cost subject to the Director of Place being satisfied that there is a compelling case in the public interest for the use of compulsory purchase powers, and that all legal and policy requirements for the making and confirmation of a CPO have been met

 

VIII. Delegate authority to the Assistant Director, Development to serve initial Demolition Notices under the Housing Act 1985.

 

IX.   Delegate Authority to the Assistant Director of Housing and Homelessness to approve a local lettings plan for the proposed developments.

 

v.               Approves the increase of Davy Road redevelopment project budget from £17,840,740.95 to £20,300,000 to account for an increase in the number of council homes that will be delivered.  This total budget is for the purchase of affordable homes to cover all site assembly, construction costs, professional fees and further associated fees. Budget to be drawn down from the sum already approved for investment in new homes and not yet allocated.

 

  vi.         Approves this update report – Appendix 1 - on the Council’s Portfolio approach for the Ten-Year New Homes Programme