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Matter for
Decision
Report on the redevelopment scheme at Ekin Road.
Decision of
Executive Councillor for Housing
i.
Noted the completion of JLL Final Report (Stages 2 and 2b) of
the options appraisal for Ekin Road.
ii.
Approved that a mixed tenure scheme be brought forward, and a
planning application submitted in line with the emerging design proposals set
out in the officer report for the redevelopment of the Ekin Road estate
excluding the 14 houses to the south of the estate. The development of the
proposals to include further engagement with residents of the estate.
iii.
Authorised the Chief Operating Officer (COO) in consultation
with the Executive Councillor for Housing to approve variations to the scheme
including the number of units, tenure, mix of property types and sizes outlined
in the officer’s report.
iv.
Authorised the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with
the Executive Councillor to approve the transfer of the land known as Ekin Road
and Ekin Walk (excluding nos. 33-59 odd Ekin Road and 1 – 6 Ekin Close) and
shown edged red on the attached plan in Appendix 1, to Cambridge Investment
Partnership (CIP) for redevelopment. The transfer would be at a value provided
by a further independent valuation.
v.
Authorised the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with
the Executive Councillor to approve an Affordable Housing Agreement with CIP
for the purchase of 64 affordable homes. This agreement would be at a value
provided by an independent valuer.
vi.
Approved draw down of a budget of £19,859,734 from the budget
approved for the delivery of new homes, to fund the purchase of the affordable
homes and associated development costs including on costs, the purchase of
freehold and leasehold properties and the costs of decant for residents of the
estates.
vii.
Approved giving 82 affected council tenants required to
decant the highest priority on the Council's choice-based lettings system
(Home-Link). The emergency banding
status would be applied to all existing secure tenant applications from 18 June
2024.
viii.
Delegated authority to the Chief Operating Officer to take
steps preparatory to the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in respect
of any Leasehold and Freehold properties required in order to deliver the
scheme.
ix.
Delegated authority to the Chief Operating Officer to make a
CPO in respect of any leasehold or freehold interests that cannot be acquired
by private treaty within a reasonable timescale and at a reasonable cost
subject to the Chief Operating Officer 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;
x.
Delegated authority to the Chief Operating Officer to serve
initial Demolition Notices under the Housing Act 1985.
xi.
Delegated authority to the Chief Operating Officer to
investigate and approve a scheme of works to improve the seven Council owned
properties that would be retained.
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 (Development) and Assistant Director for Housing
and Homelessness said the following in response to Members’ questions:
i.
The Council would continue to apply for grant
funding from Homes England. The success of the 500 homes programme was based on
less stringent grant arrangements compared to grant arrangements which were in
place now. Detail was included within the officer report around what it was
believed the rent levels would be. There was a chance to try and increase the
number of affordable homes on the development. Further work was required with
the Planning Department.
ii.
The fourteen homes along the south were the more
straight forward to remove from the application site. Within the middle of the
officer report and as part of the appendix to the JLL report there was a
separate summary by the architect which looked at the four clusters of housing
and their constraints. The scheme needed to balance the right mix of homes,
open space, and other associated planning considerations.
iii.
The council learned things from every redevelopment
scheme. For this scheme it was important to consider the impact of the
redevelopment proposals on the community as a whole and not just the residents
included within the ‘red line’ development site. ‘Place based’ communication
was key as well as genuine and meaningful engagement and consultation.
Difficult choices had to be made when considering redevelopment of the
council’s housing stock.
iv.
Consultants were employed to provide independent
and specialist advice.
v.
Tenants had a statutory legal right to return to
the estate following any redevelopment. In previous experience it was found
that most tenants didn’t return as moving twice in a short period of time was a
lot.
vi.
If redevelopment was approved, then construction
traffic would be controlled via the planning system.
vii.
Where major refurbishment works were required to
council properties and it was not possible for residents to remain in the
property whilst works were undertaken, tenants could be decanted temporarily
into alternative accommodation. There was financial assistance available in
these circumstances to help with the temporary move, but this was different to
the statutory home loss payment, which would not apply.
viii.
Officers had met with three council tenants the
previous evening and would work with them to keep them together should
redevelopment be approved.
ix.
As far as officers were aware on previous
redevelopments where decanting had taken place, only one council tenant had
advised that they would want to return if redevelopment took place.
Cllr Tong proposed the following amendments to recommendations,
deleted text struckthrough, additional text underlined.
Councillor Martinelli seconded the amendments to enable votes to
be taken on the amendments.
Amended recommendations
2.2 Approve that a mixed tenure scheme be brought forward, and a
planning application submitted in line with the emerging design proposals set
out in this report for the redevelopment of the Ekin Road estate excluding the
14 houses to the south of the estate and the 6 houses on the north-east
corner of the estate. The development of the proposals to include further
engagement with residents of the estate.
2.3 Authorise the Chief Operating Officer (COO) in consultation
with the Executive Councillor for housing, Chair and Spokes to approve
variations to the scheme including the number of units, tenure, mix of property
types and sizes outlined in this report.
2.4 Authorise the Chief Operating Officer
in consultation with the Executive Councillor, Chair and Spokes to
approve the transfer of the land known as Ekin Road and Ekin Walk (excluding
nos. 33-59 odd Ekin Road, 13-23 odd Ekin Road, and 1 – 6
Ekin Close) and shown edged red on the attached plan in Appendix 1, to
Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) for redevelopment. The transfer will be
at a value provided by a further independent valuation.
2.5 Authorise the Chief Operating Officer
in consultation with the Executive Councillor, Chair and Spokes to
approve an Affordable Housing Agreement with CIP for the purchase of 64
affordable homes. This agreement will be at a value provided by an independent
valuer.
2.8 Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to
take steps preparatory to the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in
respect of any Leasehold and Freehold properties required in order to deliver
the scheme. Hab
2.10 Delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to
serve initial Demolition Notices under the Housing Act 1985.
2.11 to serve initial Demolition Notices under the Housing Act
1985.
2.121 Delegate authority to the Chief Operating
Officer to investigate and approve a scheme of works to improve the seven eleven Council
owned properties that will be retained.
The proposed amendments to the recommendations were lost by:
2.2 – 1 vote in favour, 6 against and 2 abstentions
2.3 – 3 votes in favour, 6 against
2.4 – 1 vote in favour, 6 against and 2 abstentions
2.5 – 1 vote in favour, 8 against
2.8 – 1 vote in favour, 8 against
2.10 – 1 vote in favour, 8 against
2.11 – 1 vote in favour, 8 against
The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations:
i. 2.1, 2.7 and 2.12 unanimously
ii. 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, 2.11 by 8 votes in favour,
0 against and 1 abstention.
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.