Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Housing presented the report which provided the Committee with an update regarding the new build housing pipeline and purchase using Right to Buy capital receipts.

At the forefront of new developments was the Swinegate development known as Knapp House at Swinegate, Grantham which had been officially handed over to the Council in September 2025 with a formal opening ceremony taking place on 3 November 2025.  The Cabinet Member for Housing informed the Committee that all apartments within the development were now allocated.

The development at Larch Close, Grantham which was being undertaken by Mercer Building Solutions was progressing despite the inclement weather and was due for completion in December 2026.

Wellington Way, Market Deeping was another site which was actively progressing and work on site was due to start in early February 2026.

Planning permission for the three-unit scheme at Toller Court, Horbling was granted at the Planning Committee in October 2025.  Procurement for the scheme had commenced with four expressions of interest received.  A report recommending the award of the contract for the development would be presented to Cabinet on 15 January 2026 meeting.

A public consultation had been undertaken in November 2025 in respect of the proposed development at Kesteven Road, Stamford and feedback from the consultation was currently being reviewed. 

A question was asked in respect of those Members who sat on the Planning Committee who also attended the Housing OSC, did they need to declare an interest in respect of developments going to Committee.  The Chief Executive indicated that there was no pecuniary interest as long as Members made no pre-determination in respect of any development.

The Committee were informed that the 12 empty properties at Lumby’s Terrace, Stamford had now been sold for at least Red Book Valuation cost.

A question was asked in respect of the EPC rating on new build properties. It was stated that the highest rating was aimed for i.e. A.

Another Member asked what the projected loss of Council housing stock was in respect of Right to Buy (RTB) sales.   Although the Cabinet Member for Housing did not have projected figures, in the three months of August to October only 2 properties had been lost due to RTB sales.  Due to the change in the rules around RTB less applications were being received.  It was indicated that the information would be circulated to Members of the Committee outside the meeting.

The Head of Housing Service stated that data was collected as required by Government at the end of the year which captured all the RTB sales, new builds and acquisitions.  The next data capture would be the end of the financial year 2025/26 but the figures for 2024/25 were due to be published in the winter edition of the Skyline magazine.  It was stated that the figures for 2025/26 could be brought to Committee when they had been completed next year.

Ø Action

Data capture figures for 2025/26 to be circulated to Members of the Housing OSC plus substitute Members attending the Committee.

(14:10 Councillor Zoe Lane arrived)

A further question was asked in respect of whether the Cabinet had approved a long term Acquisition Policy.  The Chief Executive informed the Committee that a new Asset Management Plan would be coming to the February meeting of the Housing OSC which would include property and land acquisitions with the document going before Cabinet on 10 February 2026.

The Committee noted the report and the Chairman thanked all Officers for their hard work in respect of the new build development projects.