Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision

The ATS & Murketts site is being developed by Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP). The report sought approval for capital budget to purchase 28 affordable homes from the CIP as council homes.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing and Homelessness

      i.         Approved the purchase of 28 new Council homes at ATS & Murketts and delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Development (Place Group) to approve contract terms with CIP in respect of this transaction.

    ii.         Delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Development (Place Group) to agree rental tenures in line with Council Policy and planning consents for the ATS & Murketts Affordable Housing.

   iii.         Approved a total budget of £6,788,000 to enable the development of 28 affordable homes at ATS & Murketts.

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 Assistant Director Development.

The Assistant Director advised that the following sentence on p57 of the agenda paragraph 8c ‘Water usage will be restricted to a maximum of 99 litres per person per day, an improvement against current planning policy’ should be amended to ‘Policy 28 of the Local Plan sets a water efficiency target of 110 litres per person per day. For ATS Murketts, the water efficiency targets are 99 litres per person per day.

The Assistant Director Development said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) was calculated through a government formula. The biodiversity on the site would be assessed by an Ecology Consultant before any development was carried out. The legal requirement required development to deliver 10% BNG.

    ii.         Planning Officers were keen that the proposed development provided public access to the park; however, there were a number of stakeholder groups that the council would need to work with to come to a solution regarding access to the park.

   iii.         The proposal was for 40% affordable housing; viability was challenging. Was aware of the need for more 3 and 4 bed houses. The number of flats had reduced from 78 to 70; it was a balancing exercise. All the flats would be accessible.

  iv.         The development would be delivered as sustainably as possible.

    v.         Parking provision was one space per house and less for the flats however there were good public transport connections to the site.   

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.