Agenda item

To receive a joint report from the Director of Housing and Communities and Director of City Development which seeks approval for a new long-term Delivery Strategy.

Resolved (unanimously):

That Executive

a)   Approves the Delivery Strategy for the HDP, including an initial phase of five sites (Ordnance Lane, Castle Mills, Willow House, Lowfield Plot A and Manor School), via the appointment of a long-term Strategic Delivery Partner and client-side multidisciplinary professional team.

b)   Agrees that the Delivery Strategy, subject to future Executive approvals, may be used to support the delivery of additional sites in the HDP, as well as strategic sites that may come forward through the Council’s wider asset programmes and One Public Estate partnership work, including major public?sector land opportunities and significant brownfield regeneration schemes.

c)    Approves that prior to entering into any major construction contract in the HDP, a business case will be brought back to Executive for approval.

d)   Agrees to delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Communities and/or the Director of City Development (as appropriate based on the site) (in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Director of Governance) to take such steps that are necessary to procure and appoint the Strategic Delivery Partner, multidisciplinary professional team, and demolition of buildings at Willow House, and to determine the provisions of and enter into the resulting contracts (including any and all partnership agreements, pre-construction services agreements and early / minor / enabling / demolition works contracts) and any other necessary legal documentation (including any and all planning agreements and/or highways/land agreements as required; however, for the sake of clarity this delegation is not for any requirements of either the Local Planning and/or Highways Authority), and the provisions of any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto, in accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations set out in Appendices 10 and 10a of the Constitution (the “Finance Regs”), the Contract Procedure Rules set out in Appendix 11 of the Constitution (the “CPRs”) and (where applicable) the Procurement Act 2023 (the “Procurement Act”) and the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (the “PCRs”), within approved budgets and subject to the availability of funding.

e)   Agrees to delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Communities and/or the Director of City Development (as appropriate based on the site) (in consultation with the Directors of Governance and Finance) to agree and enter into any land assembly, access, highways, easement, wayleave, title regularisation, or minor freehold/leasehold disposal necessary to deliver individual schemes (and the provisions of any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto), where consistent with an Executive?approved business case and statutory requirements.

f)     Agrees to delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Communities and/or the Director of City Development (as appropriate based on the site) to negotiate and enter into any Section 106, Section 278, Section 38, utilities, adoption, estate management, collaboration or development agreements required to implement schemes (and the provisions of any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto), following Executive approval of the relevant business case.

g)   Agrees to delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Communities and/or the Director of City Development (as appropriate based on the site) (in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Director of Governance) to undertake feasibility and due diligence work on additional sites in the pipeline, and to bring forward scheme?specific business cases to Executive for decision on inclusion in the Partnership.

h)   Agrees to delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Communities and/or the Director of City Development (as appropriate based on the site) (in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Director of Governance) to determine the provisions of and enter into any resulting grant funding agreements and/or Memorandums of Understanding with any external funders, and the provisions of any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto, to ensure compliance with the Subsidy Control Act 2022, the Finance Regs and the CPRs.

i)     Approved the change from the Passivhaus-certification requirement for new homes to the adoption of the core requirements within the Homes England Healthy Homes Standard, and Future Homes Standard, as well as consideration of enhancements.

j)     Notes the availability of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers, and to receive further reports (should they be required) in respect of any potential CPOs which may be required to facilitate the delivery of the schemes.

Reasons:

·      To ensure any works and/or services are procured in compliance with the Finance Regs, the CPRs, and (where applicable) our statutory duties under the Procurement Act 2023 and the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

·      To ensure that any grant funding arrangements are entered into in compliance with the Subsidy Control Act 2022, the Finance Regs and the CPRs.

·      To approve the Delivery Strategy and associated appointments, providing a single, programme?based route to secure capacity, continuity and best value through a Strategic Delivery Partner and client?side multidisciplinary team.

·      To confirm the inclusion of the first phase of sites within the Partnership, ensuring a clear and sequenced pipeline that can be managed efficiently on a programme basis.

·      To enable early feasibility work on wider strategic development opportunities, including sites emerging through One Public Estate and major brownfield regeneration schemes, and to ensure that any proposal to include such sites in the Partnership is supported by a business case brought to Executive for decision.

·      To endorse site?by?site contract awards and programme phasing, preserving CYC control and flexibility to respond to market conditions and affordability while maintaining delivery pace.

·      To require updated scheme?specific business cases for Executive approval prior to entering major construction contracts in the HDP, strengthening governance, affordability and risk management at each gateway.

·      To enable the Council to assemble and manage land, infrastructure and property interests necessary for scheme delivery, ensuring legal, planning and operational readiness.

·      To allow the Council to enter into grant funding, infrastructure, highways, utilities and development agreements needed to implement individual schemes efficiently and in accordance with statutory requirements.

·      To support timely and coordinated delivery of the HDP by providing appropriate delegations to progress activity.

·      To ensure that schemes can be delivered in line with Executive approved business cases, the Council Plan, and the wider objectives for affordable housing, regeneration, social value, economic inclusion and climate action.

·      To adopt the Homes England Healthy Homes Standard and Future Homes Standard to maintain high-quality, low carbon design while ensuring schemes remain deliverable and financially sustainable.