Agenda item

The purpose of this report is to consider the potential for delivering new social housing through the redevelopment and regeneration of garages, parking areas and associated hard standing forming part of the Scientist Estate, Chalkhill.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve in principle the Council working with Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association (MTVH) to support the development objective ofdelivering newsocial housing withinthe Chalkhill Estate.

(2)    To approve in principle to make Compulsory Purchase Orders of land interests within the Chalkhill Estate as identified on Plan 1 under Planning or Housing legislation to bring forward the development objectives, subject to a further specific resolution of Cabinet in respect of the making of each order.

(3)    To agree advancing the preliminary stages of the compulsory purchase process on the Chalkhill Estate, including, but not limited to, land referencing, issuing section 16 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 notices (section 16 notices), engaging,consulting andnegotiating withlandowners, andpreparation ofdocumentation and undertake all matters that the Council might need to undertake to inform a further report to Cabinet to make, confirm and implement the CPO, if required.

(4)    To approve inprinciple to appropriate,subject to planning,the land identifiedon Plan1 under section 203 of the 2016 Housing and Planning Act, subject to a further specific resolution ofCabinet inrespect ofthe makingof eachappropriation.

(5)    To approve in principle to make stopping up orders using planning or highways legislation for any land identified on Plan 1 and comprising public highway.

(6)    To note the potential for the delivery of new social housing illustrated by MTVH’s current design proposals and that the current proposal will be subject to further consultation, designrefinement andfollowing thatbe subjectof anapplication forplanning permissionto the Local Planning Authority.

(7)    To delegate authorityto theCorporate Directorof ResidentServices, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security to enter into an indemnity agreement with MTVH to indemnify the Council for all costs associated with the compulsory purchase process on Chalkhill Estate.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 18 March 24

Councillor Knight (Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security) introduced a report detailing the potential for delivering new social housing through the redevelopment and regeneration of garages, parking areas and associated hard standing forming part of the Scientist Estate, Chalk hill owned and managed by Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association (MTVH).

In introducing the report Cabinet noted the opportunity outlined to work closely with MTVH as one of the Council’s strategic housing provider partners to unlock 60 new social homes for residents through the repurposing of garage sites on the Chalk hill Estate.  Highlighting the way in which development of the proposals reflected the approach being adopted towards strategic relationship and place building involving a range of housing providers, members were pleased to note that whilst the estate was wholly owned and managed by MTVH all of the new homes delivered as part of the scheme would be for social rent with the Council holding 100% nomination rights to under the initial lettings process with the scheme to be delivered by MTVH utilising the Council’s statutory site assembly Compulsory Purchase powers.

In welcoming the initiative, members recognised the innovative nature of the scheme as a means of supporting the efforts being made to increase the supply of affordable housing in order to address the ongoing housing crisis and long term needs of residents across the borough, with support also expressed for the new homes being provided at social rent and nomination rights available to the Council.  In thanking all those involved for their efforts to bring forward the scheme, members advised they were also keen to continue the development of this type of approach, working collectively with strategic partners, in order to identify any further new build opportunities and to ensure all levers were being utilised to deliver the Council’s strategic housing objectives including the ongoing review of statutory CPO and site assembly powers.

In support of the scheme, Cabinet therefore RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve in principle the Council working with Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association (MTVH) to support the development objective ofdelivering newsocial housing withinthe Chalk hill Estate.

(2)    To approve in principle to make Compulsory Purchase Orders of land interests within the Chalk hill Estate as identified on Plan 1 under Planning or Housing legislation to bring forward the development objectives, subject to a further specific resolution of Cabinet in respect of the making of each order.

(3)    To agree advancing the preliminary stages of the compulsory purchase process on the Chalk hill Estate, including, but not limited to, land referencing, issuing section 16 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 notices (section 16 notices), engaging,consulting andnegotiating withlandowners, andpreparation ofdocumentation and undertake all matters that the Council might need to undertake to inform a further report to Cabinet to make, confirm and implement the CPO, if required.

(4)    To approve inprinciple to appropriate,subject to planning,the land identifiedon Plan1 under section 203 of the 2016 Housing and Planning Act, subject to a further specific resolution ofCabinet inrespect ofthe makingof eachappropriation.

(5)    To approve in principle to make stopping up orders using planning or highways legislation for any land identified on Plan 1 and comprising public highway.

(6)    To note the potential for the delivery of new social housing illustrated by MTVH’s current design proposals and that the current proposal will be subject to further consultation, designrefinement andfollowing thatbe subjectof anapplication forplanning permissionto the Local Planning Authority.

(7)    To delegate authorityto theCorporate Directorof ResidentServices, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security to enter into an indemnity agreement with MTVH to indemnify the Council for all costs associated with the compulsory purchase process on Chalk hill Estate.