Issue - meetings

This report provides Members with feedback on the public engagement relating to the proposals for the former Lowfield School site and details the case for the development. It also seeks agreement to the spatial plan, investment in enabling works and to move forward with the delivery of a care home, health facilities and housing on this site as part of the Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme

Resolved:  That the Executive:

(i)           Note the feedback from public engagement regarding plans for the redevelopment of the Lowfield site in Acomb following agreement by Executive in July 2016 to move forward with the development of the Lowfield School Site.

(ii)          Agree the spatial plan prepared for the Site as described in the report in order to deliver approximately 162 new homes, a care home, newly built accommodation for health & other public services as well as public open space and an estimated capital receipt of £4.5m, with appropriate adjustments madeto the arrangement of homes to the north west boundary ofthe Site in order to facilitate integration and to the traffic flows through the site to prevent a through-traffic route being opened up between Tudor Road and Dijon Avenue.

(iii)        Agree that the Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme includes the procurement of a new residential care facility on the Site as part of the wider Lowfield Green development.

(iv)        Agree to:

                                   i.          procure a developer/operator to construct and operate a Care Home containing approximately 70 beds on approximately 1.4 acres of the Site;

                                  ii.          the developer/operator to be chosen through a competitive process which complies with both the EU Public Contract Regulations and our own Contract Procedure Rules;   

                                iii.          dispose of approximately 1.4 acres of the Site to the developer of the Care Home by way of a long lease in return for payment of a premium/capital sum;

                                iv.          impose a condition within the lease that the site of the Care Home  can only be used as a Care Home for a specified period; 

                                 v.          procure a contract under which the Council would seek to purchase access to a specified number of beds in the Care Home at a specified rate for a specified number of years;

                             vi.             the undertaking by the Council of road construction and other enabling works estimated to cost approximately £993,000 in order to facilitate construction of the Care Home and development of adjoining land for housing; and

                           vii.             the cost of this procurement and the necessary enabling works initially being paid out of the Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme budget and later by receipts from the disposal of land on the Site.

(v)         Agree to receive the recommendation to dispose of land for the Care Home to the preferred bidder by way of long lease in accordance with the Council’s Financial and Contract Procedure Rules. 

(vi)        Agree to the preparation and submission of a planning application (relating to new access routes to the site and other necessary elements of the plan) in order to facilitate the development of the Care Home with the cost of preparing the planning application to be initially funded from the Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme and subsequently from future receipts from the disposal of land on the Site.

(vii)      Agree to seek a developer/s or alternatively for the Council to undertake development for housing of approximately 8 acres on the Site.

(viii)     Agree to receive the recommendation, where relevant, to sell  ...  view the full decision text for item 85

[See also Part B minutes]

Consideration was given to the final report of the Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme, relating to the Lowfield Green development which set out the business case to enable the programme to move forward for delivery of a care home, health facilities and housing.

Feedback on the public engagement in respect of the spatial plan for the site was presented which it was noted had been supported by the majority of residents. However, Officers reported on opposition to the scheme from a small number of residents on the north and south west boundaries of the site and confirmed receipt of a petition signed by 44 households in opposition to the scheme.

Officers confirmed that, following concerns raised, amendments had been made to the scheme which would ensure that there was no ‘cut through’ from Tudor Road to Dijon Avenue. A review of the house layout and other uses on the north west boundary would be undertaken. Officers also confirmed support for self and community building options and referred to interest from YorSpace which would be explored further.

Cllr Waller, as one of the Ward Member, expressed his support for provision of older persons’ accommodation and health facilities to the east of the city. He also asked that local residents were kept fully informed of the proposals and timetable for development.

The Executive Member thanked Officers for bringing the scheme forward and noted the Local Members comments. Members also confirmed support for the proposed use of the site, in particular affordable housing and engagement with YorSpace for self-build housing. 

Resolved:  That the Executive:

(i)           Note the feedback from public engagement regarding plans for the redevelopment of the Lowfield site in Acomb following agreement by Executive in July 2016 to move forward with the development of the Lowfield School Site.

(ii)          Agree the spatial plan prepared for the Site as described in the report in order to deliver approximately 162 new homes, a care home, newly built accommodation for health & other public services as well as public open space and an estimated capital receipt of £4.5m, with appropriate adjustments madeto the arrangement of homes to the north west boundary ofthe Site in order to facilitate integration and to the traffic flows through the site to prevent a through-traffic route being opened up between Tudor Road and Dijon Avenue.

(iii)        Agree that the Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme includes the procurement of a new residential care facility on the Site as part of the wider Lowfield Green development.

(iv)        Agree to:

                                   i.          procure a developer/operator to construct and operate a Care Home containing approximately 70 beds on approximately 1.4 acres of the Site;

                                  ii.          the developer/operator to be chosen through a competitive process which complies with both the EU Public Contract Regulations and our own Contract Procedure Rules;   

                                iii.          dispose of approximately 1.4 acres of the Site to the developer of the Care Home by way of a long lease in return for payment of a premium/capital sum;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85