Decision details

Purpose of Report: To consider opportunities for closer working with the HCA to deliver the City’s Housing needs.

Members are asked to consider the options for a strategic partnership and agree officer recommendations.

Resolved:     That the Executive agree:

(i)           To enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership for housing development and investment with the Homes & Communities Agency.

(ii)          That a detailed business case for council-led housing development, including project management, governance, funding arrangements and risk assessments be presented for Executive approval in the summer of 2017.

(iii)        That the council will explore partnership and funding opportunities to deliver accelerated housing on public land.

(iv)        That as part of the development of business cases, the council will engage with health and education partners, to explore the local impacts of housing development on other strategic services.

(v)         To note that the financial plan for the council requires that an additional £1m of annual revenue is generated from Council-owned property and land by 2020 and using budgets already held for this purpose, establish a project team who will develop proposals for housing development.

(vi)        To note that work has begun to develop proposals for housing on the Burnholme and Lowfield sites [in accordance with Executive decisions of 19th May 2016 and 8th December 2016] and agree that work begins to develop the business case for the development of homes on the Askham Bar site, the former Clifton Without School site and the Manor school site.

(vii)      To note the good progress made in delivering new affordable housing via Housing Revenue Account Investment and agree that this will continue, subject to individual consent for investment in accordance with Financial Regulations.

Reason:        To progress with the building of much needed new homes in York.