Issue - meetings

Report number HSG165 by the Director of Regulatory Services.

                                                                                                (attached)

DECISION:

(1)    The land (2124m²) and buildings at Croake Hill, Swinstead as identified by the broken line on Plan A appended to report HSG165 be sold to the Muir Group Housing Association at the District Valuer’s valuation to develop six houses and two bungalows subject to nomination rights in favour of the Council;

(2)    The open amentity land ( 978²) shown edged with a broken line on Plan B appended to the same report be sold to the Muir Group Housing Association at District Valuer’s valuation subject to the land being maintained by the Association as open land for the benefit of residents of the Croake Hill development and available for the wider community.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)     Report number HSG165 by the Director of Regulatory Services outlining the proposal by the Muir Group Housing Association to demolish the existing bedsit accommodation at Croake Hill, Swinstead and redevelop the site with affordable housing, consisting of six houses and two bungalows;

(2)     The Cabinet had agreed in December 2002 to demolish the bedsit accommodation and to redevelop the site, subject to planning permission, in partnership with one of the Council’s preferred registered social landlords (RSL) partners.  Muir Group Housing Association has been selected as one of the preferred RSL partners.  Planning permission for the redevelopment was granted in May 2005 (reference: SO5/0345);

(3)     Muir Group has secured funding for the redevelopment from the Housing Corporation.  In order to qualify for the grant, the transfer of ownership of the site now needs to be completed.  The sale to Muir Group would be at the District Valuer’s fettered valuation taking into account nomination rights in favour of the Council;

(4)     The provision of affordable housing is currently a Category B priority of the Council;

(5)     The proposal has been subject to full consultation with residents.

Other options considered and assessed:

Requests to purchase the two areas of land shown by a broken line on Plans A and B attached have been considered as genuine offers.  It is recommended that these offers be rejected, as they do not accord with the Council’s priorities. The requests also include a proposal for the two areas to be provided for the benefit of the community of Swinstead as village green or Swinstead.  The Associations proposals for redevelopment of the site include the retention of the open space to the front of the development for the benefit of all the residents of Croake Hill. The Association’s proposals could not proceed without the two areas of land referred to.        The two areas of land have not been declared surplus to requirement by Housing Services.