Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration setting out the intention of the Council to continue ongoing regeneration efforts and to increase housing provision in the city.

26.1    The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Hilton, introduced the report and explained that it sought to progress regeneration and the building of new homes, particularly in areas close to the city centre. He noted that there was a need to provide new homes in the city centre and nearby areas and that this would also support the local business economy. Councillor Hilton advised Members that the report also sought to pursue the regeneration and development of brownfield sites.

26.2    Councillor Hilton explained that 5 sites had been identified, 3 of which were in the ownership of the City Council. He provided a summary of the key headlines of each of the sites in turn, namely Wessex House, Whitefriars Phase 2, 20-26 The Oxbode, and the privately owned sites, 67-69 London Road and 106-114 Northgate Street (Spreadeagle Court) as set out in section 3 of the report. Councillor Hilton noted that he hoped that further information would be received from central government in due course around funding for developing brownfield sites.

26.3    Councillor Hilton further advised Members that any move to pursue Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) would be made after considerable negotiation with the private landowners. He stated that the Council also needed to be confident that funding was available to deliver the projects. Councillor Hilton also indicated that there were other housing projects progressing in Gloucester and that the Cabinet Member for Planning was closely involved with the review of the Strategic Local Plan. He noted that Officers would be consulting with Members as to any sites they might be aware of in their wards which might be suitable for housing.

26.4    Councillor Pullen asked for clarification as to whether consideration was being given to making a CPO on both 67-69 London Road and Spread Eagle Court. Councillor Hilton responded that CPOs were under consideration if necessary.

26.5    Councillor Pullen asked whether the Council was in  a position to provide an indication of renovation and development costs on the privately owned properties. Councillor Hilton explained that both sites had been valued and there were challenges in that the current market value of the sites did not reflect the site value. He stated that a full business plan needed to be undertaken before any CPOs were made.

26.6    In response to concerns raised by Councillor Pullen about the implications of purchasing properties which needed costly repair works, Councillor Hilton reminded Members that this was the start of the process and that any development plans needed to be financially viable. He expressed his hope that additional public sector funding would be available from central government for delivery of more affordable housing.

26.7    Councillor Pullen queried whether the proposed development sites would deliver a 30% proportion of affordable housing, as per the recent motion approved by Council. Councillor Hilton advised that  there would be a higher proportion of affordable housing if the Council worked with Registered Social Landlords to deliver the schemes, and the proportion might be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration setting out the intention of the Council to continue ongoing regeneration efforts and to increase housing provision in the City.

RESOLVED that:

(1)       authority is delegated to the Head of Place, in consultation with the Council Solicitor, S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, to explore all options to acquire land at 67-69 London Road, Gloucester and 106 – 114 Northgate Street, Gloucester, including the use of Compulsory Purchase Order powers, if necessary, to bring back into use these long term vacant and unsightly sites;

(2)       authority is delegated to the Head of Place, in consultation with the Corporate Director, the S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, to undertake the necessary tasks to be able to present viable residential development proposals to Cabinet for the former Wessex House site on Great Western Road, Gloucester; the upper floors of 20 – 26 The Oxbode, Gloucester; and ‘Whitefriars Phase 2’ on Market Parade, Gloucester. This work should be completed within 6 months of this decision and presented to Cabinet for decision making on next steps.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration that set out the intention of the Council to continue ongoing regeneration efforts and to increase housing provision in the City.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration informed Members that he believed that the recommendations (2.1) would kick-start the regeneration of sites in desperate need of attention.  He summarised the condition and previous efforts to develop each of the sites identified in the report (3.4-3.8).  The Cabinet Member for Regeneration advised that the proposals would contribute about 180 new residential units commencing the process of bringing life back to the city centre to the benefit of all its businesses.  He reminded Members that an aim of the administration was to deliver urban regeneration.

The Cabinet Member for Resources informed Members that he welcomed this opportunity to demonstrate the administration’s ambitions and that he was confident the proposals would receive the necessary funding.  He noted that projects such as these affected people’s lives for the better which is what the Council should be focused on.  The Cabinet Member for Regeneration commented on the lack of land for new housing in the City and expressed the hope that the government would support such projects as they had done for the regeneration of the vacant former Kwik Save site into Walkinshaw Court.

RESOLVED that:

(1)       authority is delegated to the Head of Place, in consultation with the Council Solicitor, S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, to explore all options to acquire land at 67-69 London Road, Gloucester and 106 – 114 Northgate Street, Gloucester, including the use of Compulsory Purchase Order powers, if necessary, to bring back into use these long term vacant and unsightly sites;

(2)       authority is delegated to the Head of Place, in consultation with the Corporate Director, the S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, to undertake the necessary tasks to be able to present viable residential development proposals to Cabinet for the former Wessex House site on Great Western Road, Gloucester; the upper floors of 20 – 26 The Oxbode, Gloucester; and ‘Whitefriars Phase 2’ on Market Parade, Gloucester. This work should be completed within 6 months of this decision and presented to Cabinet for decision making on next steps.