Issue - meetings

Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme (including Flint)

Meeting: 07/07/2014 - Housing OSC - Expired 07/05/15 (Item 20)

20 Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme (including Flint) pdf icon PDF 47 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

            That the proposals contained within the report to take forward the procurement of new homes in Flint to replace the maisonettes and for small scale new development on other key council sites be supported. 

 

Minutes:

The Chief Officer (Community and Enterprise) introduced a report to seek Members’ views on the commencement of early action (serving a Prior Information Notice (PIN notice)) to begin a procurement exercise for new build housing.  This would include progressing the regeneration of Flint Town Centre and redevelopment of the cleared sites of the maisonettes, and to procure a development partner to deliver a council house building programme.  The Strategic Procurement Advisor, was introduced to the Committee. 

 

            In detailing the background to the report, the Chief Officer (Community and Enterprise) explained that nearly all of the maisonettes had been emptied and that only ten tenants had not had a property identified for them to move into.  There was a need to move forward with the demolition of the maisonette blocks and it was expected that all of the sites would be cleared by Spring 2015.  Work had been ongoing to develop options for the provision of extra care housing in the town and a preferred Registered Social Landlord partner had been chosen to take forward proposals for a new 60 plus bed scheme on the site of the maisonettes.  Work was also underway to progress plans to provide a new primary health care centre in Flint.  Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) had stated a preference for this to be on the site of the Leas maisonettes.  The report contained details of the mixed tenure development on the Walks site and including the extra care scheme, the total scheme would provide 170 new homes and a Primary Health care centre on what was the site originally for 214 homes; details were provided of the proposed tenure mix. 

 

            The Chief Officer (Community and Enterprise) spoke of the land within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) which was earmarked for development and of new sites being identified following a review of garage sites.  Any homes developed for affordable rent or affordable purchase would be managed by NEW homes, with a view to them being purchased by the company longer term.   The next step in the process was to carry out formal consultation with the market by serving a PIN notice, prior to seeking approval from Cabinet to commence a procurement process in September 2014.  Procurement would take approximately nine months depending on the chosen procurement method which would allow the earliest start on site for any development to be autumn 2015, subject to planning permission.  The Chief Officer also explained the appendices attached to the report. 

 

            The Chairman welcomed the exciting news for the Council. 

 

            Councillor George Hardcastle asked about paragraph 2.02 and the Chief Officer (Community and Enterprise) said that the property of the one remaining home owner had been purchased at market value.  She added that some of the tenants had been reluctant to move but officers were now confident that agreement had been reached for all of the remaining tenants to be relocated.  The Chief Officer (Community and Enterprise), in response to a question from Councillor Mike Reece, confirmed that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20