Agenda item

To seek approval to the acquisition of a brownfield development site in Stroud.

The Leader, Councillor Braun, introduced Councillor Cornell to present the report. Councillor Cornell confirmed that the report had been discussed during an exempt session at Strategy and Resources Committee but had been published in the public domain for the Council meeting. She highlighted the following key points:

·         The purchase of the site had been included as part the Levelling Up Fund bid.

·         Planning permission had been granted for 47 2-bedroom flats and a small amount of retail space, however it had not yet been brought forward for development.

·         Newland homes acquired the site in 2017.

·         Officers approached Newland Homes regarding the site following a review of Brownfield sites in the District.

·         Section 3 set out the due diligence that had been carried out on the site.

·         If the Levelling Up bid was unsuccessful officers would seek alternative funding, there were currently funding streams available for Brownfield sites.

·         The site gave the Council the opportunity to deliver additional social, economic and environmental benefits.

·         A new capital budget was required for the purchase of the site, Strategy and Resources had recommended to Council that this was agreed.

In response to questions received from Members the following answers were given:

·         The Council was in a position to fund the site, if they did not receive the funding required they would look to borrow the necessary funds and costs would need to be recovered from sales from the site. It had not yet been decided if this would need to be internal or external borrowing.

·         The reports referred to in paragraph 3.1 of the report had been viewed by officers and reviewed by independent consultants who had been instructed to look at the site and all of the information. Officers were aware that the site posed challenges but solutions were available.

·         The scale of affordable housing had not yet been agreed but the Council currently aimed for 30% on most sites. Officers would look at what level of affordable housing could be achieved whilst ensuring the scheme was still viable.

·         Any offer made for the site was subject to contract.

Proposed by Councillor Cornell and seconded by Councillor Braun.

Councillor Cornell thanked the officers for the work completed in raising awareness of Brownfield sites. She stated it was a great central site and hoped they would win the levelling up bid.

Councillor Pearson stated that he was sceptical about the site and raised concerns due to his knowledge of previous landslips and the difficulties with building the banks of the canal in this area.

Councillor Hurst expressed concerns regarding the short timescale to agree to purchase the site and the stability of the land, he stated that the site had been through at least 3 different ownerships and none of those developers had brought the site forward for development. He confirmed that he would not be able to vote for the proposal and stated that if the Levelling Up Bid was not granted the council may need to fund this using its own resources.

Councillor Hall supported the recommendation as it would result in affordable housing, he asked for a commitment to be made that at least 30% of the site would be used for social housing.

Councillor Turner stated that the site needed to be developed for the people of Stroud and would be following the advice of officers through the process. The site had potential to add to the social housing stock and to enhance the wider area.

Councillor Patrick asked why they would only consider putting 30% social housing on the site if they owned it.

Councillor Studdert-Kennedy stated that they were in danger of going through the same process that they did with Brimscombe Port in finding a developer for the site.

On being put to the Vote, the Motion was carried.