Issue - meetings

This report sets out a proposed redevelopment strategy for the Learie Constantine Youth and Community Centre located at 43-47 Dudden Hill Lane. The Council owns the freehold of this site and the premises is let to the Learie Constantine West Indian Association on a long leasehold interest, which has an unexpired term of approximately 84 years. Council Officers and the Association have collaborated on redevelopment options for the Centre which is in need of repair and would benefit from renewal. This could be supported through redevelopment of the site comprising a form of joint venture agreement that would deliver the benefit of a new building for the Association and provide additional housing in line with the Council’s Corporate Strategy.

(i) that the proposed redevelopment strategy as set out in paragraphs 3.7 to 3.26 of the report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects be approved.

(ii) that it be noted that there was an opportunity to consider the redevelopment of the Learie Constantine Centre site comprehensively with adjacent Council owned land at 41-37 Dudden Hill Lane to increase the total developable area, as set out in paragraphs 3.19 and 3.20.

(iii) that it be noted that the final redevelopment proposals would be submitted to the Executive for approval at a later date once the details have been agreed with the Learie Constantine West Indian Association and approved by the Council’s Major Projects Review Panel.

The report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects set out a proposed redevelopment strategy for the Learie Constantine Youth and Community Centre, the freehold for which was owned by the Council. This strategy had been developed in collaboration with the Learie Constantine West Indian Association (the Association) which held the leasehold for the centre, with an unexpired term of approximately 84 years. 

Mr Phil Sealy addressed the meeting on behalf of Mr Mullings (Chair of the Association) and drew members’ attention to a written submission circulated in advance of the meeting. This document set out actions previous undertaken by the Association to attempt to purchase the freehold from the council and to pursue redevelopment of the centre on this basis, the proposals for which had included a residential unit for the Association’s use.

Councillor Crane (Lead Member for Regeneration and Major Projects) advised that officers had been working with the Association to agree the best way forward to redevelop the centre. A joint venture agreement was proposed which would deliver the benefit of a new community centre for the Association and additional housing for the borough.  The council was unable to support the Association’s previous plans for redeveloping the centre as they did not meet best value considerations. Additionally, officers were unable to support the Association’s wish to obtain residential dwellings for its use through redevelopment of the site as the Association did not currently have the benefit of residential accommodation. The report highlighted that there was the possibility of considering the redevelopment of the site comprehensively with adjacent Council owned land at 41-37 Dudden Hill Lane which currently held both vacant and occupied properties. Officers would continue to review this option, taking account of the circumstances of these properties and final redevelopment proposals would be put to the Executive for approval at a later date.

The Executive expressed its thanks to Phil Sealy for his representations to the meeting

RESOLVED:

(i)    that the proposed redevelopment strategy as set out in paragraphs 3.7 to 3.26 of the report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects be approved.

(ii) that it be noted that there was an opportunity to consider the redevelopment of the Learie Constantine Centre site comprehensively with adjacent Council owned land at 41-37 Dudden Hill Lane to increase the total developable area, as set out in paragraphs 3.19 and 3.20.

(iii) that it be noted that the final redevelopment proposals would be submitted to the Executive for approval at a later date once the details have been agreed with the Learie Constantine West Indian Association and approved by the Council’s Major Projects Review Panel.