Decision details

Purpose of Report: The report provides an update on the Housing Delivery Programme and will set out a development budget for the Ordnance Lane/Hospital Fields Rd project which will trigger the submission of the planning application. The report also updates on public engagement work at Willow House, developing ideas at York Central and other potential community housing projects.

The Executive will be asked to agree the allocation of a development budget from the agreed HRA capital programme and the agreement to proceed with community housing schemes.

Resolved:  (i)      That approval be given to submit a planning application to deliver new homes, community and flexible commercial spaces at the Ordnance Lane and Hospital Fields Road site.

                   (ii)      That it be noted that an outline business case has been developed and that this will be refined and brought before Executive post planning permission, to allocate a construction development budget to the project, transfer the general fund part of the site into the HRA through appropriation, and agree the procurement of a construction partner.

                   (iii)     That the grant offer of £2.64m under the Brownfield Land Release Fund be accepted to support projects at Ordnance Lane, the former Tang Hall Library site, and Chaloners Road Garage Court, and that approval be given to:

·        use up to £700k of this allocation for the Ordnance Lane project to undertake utility works on site and prepare a tender pack to procure a contractor to undertake enabling works; and

·        put the enabling works contract out to the market, with the contract signed after the business case for the whole site redevelopment has been approved by Executive.

                   (iii)     That an additional £500k be allocated from the Housing Delivery Programme capital budget in order to undertake detailed design work at the Ordnance Lane and Hospital Fields Road site in conjunction with the submission of the planning application and completion of the financial business case for this site.

                   (iv)    That a grant application be submitted to Homes England to support the delivery of additional Shared Ownership affordable homes on the Ordnance Lane and Hospital Fields Road site.

                   (v)     That the lessons learned on Phase 2 projects within the programme, and the progress and approach to projects which may form part of Phase 3 of the programme, including continuing use of the high standards defined in the ‘Building Better Places’ design manual as the set of objectives for the Housing Delivery Programme, be noted.

                   (v)     That the progress made on bringing forward proposals for the community-led redevelopment of the former Tang Hall Library and the Morrell House site for housing be noted, and that approval be given to dispose of the former Tang Hall Library and Morrell House sites on long leases for the purpose of enabling construction/delivery of community housing, on condition that any such disposal is made at or above its open market valuation and is subject to a deliverable business case provided from community housing organisations.

                   (vi)    That authority be delegated to the Director of Housing, Economy & Regeneration (in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Executive Member for Housing, Executive Member for Finance & Performance and the Director of Governance or her delegated officers) to take such steps as are necessary to negotiate and complete the disposal of the sites.

Reason:     To progress with the construction, rental and sale of much needed new homes in York set within healthy and sustainable neighbourhoods.