Issue - meetings

NOT FOR PUBLICATION: The annex to this report relates to an item (item 12) during which the public is likely to be excluded from the meeting by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

Public Speaker Mrs Blair

• Orchard Park is a thriving new community.
• It has 800 homes, a school and strong local partnerships.
• The land at site K1 is important to the neighbourhood. It was the last large parcel of land and would have a strong visual impact on the area.
• Co-housing offers the best option for quality build and design.
• Sale of this site to a volume house builder, without a detailed plan in place, could have a detrimental impact on the community.

Councillor Smith confirmed that continuing with the community co-housing approach was the preferred choice subject to viability.

Matter for Decision:  

Site K1 was approved for disposal in November 2004. 

The Strategy & Resources Scrutiny Committee on 29^th March 2010 approved investigation for a community co-housing scheme.  This is the provision of houses in partnership with an established developer and a group of ‘self-builders’ with outright ownership of the houses and collective ownership of the communal areas/public realm.

The information available from the initial marketing of a co-housing scheme is considered inconclusive as to the viability of such a scheme.  A decision is needed on whether to proceed with the community co-housing approach or re-market the site on the open market.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources:

Approved that the Council dispose of Site K1 by one of the following options:

              i.      Continue with the community co-housing approach if sufficient interest allowing for a 6-month marketing period and that the risks in paragraph 1.3 of Appendix A of the Officer’s report can be mitigated, failing which the site will be disposed of as in ii below.

            ii.      Re-market the site on the open market to achieve a quality scheme reflecting the Council’s desire for good sustainability, good design, high values and integration with the wider Orchard Park Community.

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 Asset Development Project Manager regarding the Options for site K1 Orchard Park. Adam Broadway, the Managing Director of Instinctively Green, was also present to answer questions.

Members discussed deliverability of the scheme. It was suggested that the initial low take up was not uncommon and that current expressions of interest would generate further interest. It was believed that the project was both innovative and deliverable.

Members expressed the hope that the scheme would generate high quality designs.

The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

Conflicts of interest declared by the Executive Councillor (and any dispensations granted)

Not applicable.