Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision

The report proposed the shape of the above ground development of Park Street Car Park to include mixed development consisting of an underground car park of 250 spaces, with social and market housing for sale and rent above ground and commercial outlets including a modern cycle park.   

 

Decision of the Leader

 

i.             Supported the redevelopment of Park Street car park to incorporate:

·        A 250 space underground car park

·        Above ground a mixed development of market, intermediate and social housing, including the option for commercial rental on the ground floor, in conjunction with cycle parking.

·        the same or greater number of cycle parking spaces

ii.            Supported a strategy to mitigate the impact of the redevelopment during construction works that included:

·        further consultation and liaison over the detailed plans and for the redevelopment with key stakeholders, including businesses in Bridge Street and the vicinity of Park Street car park

·        continuing consultation and involvement through Cambridge BID

·        regular project updates

·        exploring ways to reduce the length of time of construction, including possible re-opening of the underground car park while work continues on the construction of the commercial and housing property above ground, and re-opening in time for the 2018 Christmas shopping period

·        seeking possible provision of public use of the car park under Castle Court 7 days a week during the construction (as well as the weekend use of the Shire Hall car park), and a possible shuttle Bridge St bus service to and from Castle Court and Grafton East car parks.

·        Liaison with the companies providing scheduled bus services to see if routes can be diverted via Bridge Street

iii.           Instructed the Head of Property Services in liaison with the Head of Strategic Housing to:

·        Evaluate a further option for a housing mix of 40% social and 60% intermediate housing (the latter funded from the council’s general fund for investment return).

·        Establish a realistic assessment of the capacity of the site for above ground development, request the Urban Design Team to prepare a full planning brief, analysing its context and constraints in order to enable development value to be optimised within the planning guidance.

·        Explore the preferred mechanism to secure the redevelopment of the site to maximise the opportunities to provide affordable housing on the site within the constraints of financial viability, and to report back in the next committee cycle

·        Explore the preferred housing schemes, to enable the council to decide whether to build the social housing itself or to sell it to a registered provider, and to report back in the next committee cycle.

·        Explore the council developing the project itself, producing the social housing as outlined in the report but retaining and letting out the remaining housing.

 

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 Specialist Services.

 

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

     i.        Sought clarification regarding cycle provision and whether the redevelopment would provide the same amount of cycle parking as was currently provided.

    ii.        Sought clarification what investigations had been undertaken in relation to the capacity of other car parks whilst construction of the new development was in progress.

   iii.        Questioned the number of cycle parking spaces.

  iv.        Expressed concern that the housing proposal was driven by a desire to offset the cost of developing the car park.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Head of Specialist Services said the following:

     i.        Confirmed the number of cycle parking spaces would at least match the number of spaces currently provided by the existing development.

    ii.        Initial meetings had looked at the possibility of a shuttle bus during the construction period whilst Park Street car park was not available.

   iii.        The capacity of cycle parking provision may be able to be increased but this was dependant on the layout of the development.

  iv.        The development must take into account budgetary pressures of the Council.

 

Councillor Bick proposed the following amendment to the officer’s recommendation at 2.3 (additional text underlined):

 

In recommendation 2.3 insert before (d)

In addition to those above ground options described in the report, also evaluate a further option for a housing mix of 40% social and 60% intermediate housing (the latter funded from the council’s general fund for investment return).

 

In order to establish a realistic assessment of the capacity of the site for above ground development, request the Urban Deisgn Team to prepare a full planning brief, analysing its context and constraints in order to enable development value to be optimised within the planning guidance.  

 

On a show of hands this was agreed unanimously

 

Councillor Robertson proposed the following amendment to the officer’s recommendation 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 of the officer’s report (additional text underlined).

 

2.1 To support the redevelopment of Park Street car park to incorporate:

a) A 250 space underground car park

b) Above ground a mixed development of market, intermediate and social housing, including the option for commercial rental on the ground floor, in conjunction with cycle parking.

c) the same or greater number of cycle parking spaces

 

2.2 To support a strategy to mitigate the impact of the redevelopment during construction works that includes:

a) further consultation and liaison over the detailed plans and for the redevelopment with key stakeholders, including businesses in Bridge Street and the vicinity of Park Street car park

b) continuing consultation and involvement through Cambridge BID

c) regular project updates

d) exploring ways to reduce the length of time of construction, including possible re-opening of the underground car park while work continues on the construction of the commercial and housing property above ground, and re-opening in time for the 2018 Christmas shopping period

e) seeking possible provision of public use of the car park under Castle Court 7 days a week during the construction (as well as the weekend use of the Shire Hall car park), and a possible shuttle Bridge St bus service to and from Castle Court and Grafton East car parks.

f) Liaison with the companies providing scheduled bus services to see if routes can be diverted via Bridge Street

 

2.3 to instruct the Head of Property Services in liaison with the Strategic Housing to:

a) Explore the preferred mechanism to secure the redevelopment of the site to maximise the opportunities to provide affordable housing on the site within the constraints of financial viability, and to report back in the next committee cycle

b) Explore the preferred housing schemes, to enable the council to decide whether to build the social housing itself or to sell it to a registered provider, and to report back in the next committee cycle.

c) Explore the council developing the project itself, producing the social housing as outlined in the report but retaining and letting out the remaining housing.

 

On a show of hands this was unanimously agreed.

 

The amended recommendation was therefore put to the vote:

 

2.1 To support the redevelopment of Park Street car park to incorporate:

a) A 250 space underground car park

b) Above ground a mixed development of market, intermediate and social housing, including the option for commercial rental on the ground floor, in conjunction with cycle parking.

c) the same or greater number of cycle parking spaces

 

2.2 To support a strategy to mitigate the impact of the redevelopment during construction works that includes:

a) further consultation and liaison over the detailed plans and for the redevelopment with key stakeholders, including businesses in Bridge Street and the vicinity of Park Street car park

b) continuing consultation and involvement through Cambridge BID

c) regular project updates

d) exploring ways to reduce the length of time of construction, including possible re-opening of the underground car park while work continues on the construction of the commercial and housing property above ground, and re-opening in time for the 2018 Christmas shopping period

e) seeking possible provision of public use of the car park under Castle Court 7 days a week during the construction (as well as the weekend use of the Shire Hall car park), and a possible shuttle Bridge St bus service to and from Castle Court and Grafton East car parks.

f) Liaison with the companies providing scheduled bus services to see if routes can be diverted via Bridge Street

 

2.3 to instruct the Head of Property Services in liaison with the Strategic Housing to:

a) In addition to those above ground options described in the report, also evaluate a further option for a housing mix of 40% social and 60% intermediate housing (the latter funded from the council’s general fund for investment return).

b) In order to establish a realistic assessment of the capacity of the site for above ground development, request the Urban Design Team to prepare a full planning brief, analysing its context and constraints in order to enable development value to be optimised within the planning guidance.

c) Explore the preferred mechanism to secure the redevelopment of the site to maximise the opportunities to provide affordable housing on the site within the constraints of financial viability, and to report back in the next committee cycle

d) Explore the preferred housing schemes, to enable the council to decide whether to build the social housing itself or to sell it to a registered provider, and to report back in the next committee cycle.

f) Explore the council developing the project itself, producing the social housing as outlined in the report but retaining and letting out the remaining housing.

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered the amended recommendations and endorsed them unanimously.

 

The Leader approved the amended recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Leader (and any Dispensations Granted):

 

Not applicable.