Decision details

Approval to headline outcomes; enabling budget; and to commence procurements.

Matter for Decision

 

The report requested approval to begin the process to redevelop the Mill Road Depot site.

 

The site had been included in the draft Local Plan but, could only be redeveloped if its inclusion was confirmed in the final Local Plan. 

 

A fully costed, final scheme, would be brought to the Committee for scrutiny and approval of the Executive Councillor before a contract is signed with a developer partner to redevelop the site.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources

 

The Executive Councillor:

 

     i.        Approved the procurement of a planning and development brief for the site.

    ii.        Agreed that an options report would be brought back to this Committee prior to seeking a development partner.

   iii.        Delegated authority to the Director of Environment to agree a procurement process to select a preferred partner to develop the site following consultation with the Director of Business Transformation, Director of Customer and Community Services;  Leader; relevant Executive Councillors; and Opposition Spokespersons.

 

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 Strategic Housing regarding the redevelopment of the Mill Road Depot.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

 

     i.        Suggested that more local consultation was needed

    ii.        Requested that the main access to the site be restricted to come directly off Mill Road and not via any of the small side roads.

   iii.        Expressed concerns that members would not have an opportunity to scrutinise the development brief in advance of a preferred development partner being selected.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Head of Strategic Housing suggested that a Member briefing could be arranged.

 

Councillor Price stated that the site would be used to provide good housing for a range of tenures. 

 

Councillor Owers confirmed that a range of options had been included in the report in order to set the development brief process in motion.

 

The Director of Customer and Community Services confirmed that it was unlikely that the site could be developed exclusively as social housing due financial constraints. She suggested an additional recommendation could be added to address concerns regarding further scrutiny opportunities.

 

Additional Recommendation B (existing recommendation B to become recommendation C):

 

B: An options report would be brought back to this Committee prior to seeking a development partner.

 

This was agreed Nem Con.

 

The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.