Issue - meetings

The Corporate Director of Health, Housing and Adult Social Care to present a report that provides an update on the Housing Delivery Programme.

Resolved:  (i)      That the progress made on Lowfield, Ashfield football pitches and Duncombe Barracks, and the procurement of a design team to assist in delivering the objectives of the Housing Delivery Programme, be noted.

                   (ii)      That the ‘Building Better Places’ Design Manual attached as Annex B to the report be approved as the new set of standards for the Housing Delivery Programme.

                   (iii)     That the ‘Shape Homes York’ brand, and the creation of a website to support the council’s open market and shared ownership sales, be supported.

                   (iv)    That the proposed approach for:

·        site based business case development

·        the setting of open market and shared ownership sales prices (supported by RICS valuations and guidance from procured sales agents) and

·        agreeing sales, including the associated delegated authorities (see Annex C), with quarterly sales reports to be presented to the Section 51 Officer and the Executive

be supported.

(v)     That the proposed new public engagement strategy for the Programme be approved, to ensure that the voices of York’s communities are heard and responded to.

(vi)    That approval be given to re-allocate the budget approved by Executive on 12 July 2018 for detailed design work to develop and submit a planning application for the Askham Bar site (Resolution (iv) in Minute 16 of that meeting refers) to undertake instead the equivalent work at the Ordnance Lane and Hospital Fields Road site, and to bring forward the Askham Bar site as part of a later phase of development.

(vii)    That the proposed timetable for the submission of planning applications and a business case for Burnholme, Duncombe Barracks and Ordnance Lane / Hospital Fields Road be noted.

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

The Head of Housing Delivery presented a report which explained the work that had taken place to enable the objectives of the Housing Delivery Programme (the Programme) to be met, and what needed to be done next.

Since approval of the Programme vision by Executive on 12 July 2018 (Minute 16 of that meeting refers), planning permission had been obtained for 165 new homes and other facilities on Lowfield, including 40% affordable housing, and a grant of £1,466,800 had been secured for the site. Construction had begun on 8 football pitches on the former Ashfield Estate to replace those at Lowfield; new external support, including a multi-disciplinary design team, had been procured; and Duncombe Barracks had been purchased.

Approval was now sought for a new Design Manual setting the standards to support the ambitions of the Programme, including sustainable communities and wider social objectives (Annex B), for a 3-phase public engagement programme that would work closely with communities from the start of the process (paragraph13) and for a brand name and a sales strategy (Annex C), through which to market the new homes effectively.  It was also proposed to transfer resources previously allocated to the Askham Bar site to the site at Ordnance Lane / Hospital Fields Road and bring forward Askham Bar at a later stage, as detailed in the programme timescales set out in paragraphs 23-26.

In response to matters raised under Public Participation, the Executive Member for Housing & Safer Neighbourhoods acknowledged the affordability gap in the city; the Programme was a step in addressing this.

Resolved:  (i)      That the progress made on Lowfield, Ashfield football pitches and Duncombe Barracks, and the procurement of a design team to assist in delivering the objectives of the Housing Delivery Programme, be noted.

                   (ii)      That the ‘Building Better Places’ Design Manual attached as Annex B to the report be approved as the new set of standards for the Housing Delivery Programme.

                   (iii)     That the ‘Shape Homes York’ brand, and the creation of a website to support the council’s open market and shared ownership sales, be supported.

                   (iv)    That the proposed approach for:

·        site based business case development

·        the setting of open market and shared ownership sales prices (supported by RICS valuations and guidance from procured sales agents) and

·        agreeing sales, including the associated delegated authorities (see Annex C), with quarterly sales reports to be presented to the Section 51 Officer and the Executive

be supported.

(v)     That the proposed new public engagement strategy for the Programme be approved, to ensure that the voices of York’s communities are heard and responded to.

(vi)    That approval be given to re-allocate the budget approved by Executive on 12 July 2018 for detailed design work to develop and submit a planning application for the Askham Bar site (Resolution (iv) in Minute 16 of that meeting refers) to undertake instead the equivalent work at the Ordnance Lane and Hospital Fields Road site, and to bring forward the Askham Bar site as part  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44