Agenda item

Neil Aves, Assistant Director, Housing outlined a report to update the Committee on the latest position regarding the Britwell and Haymill Regeneration (BHR) Project and to discuss the next steps to achieve the successful regeneration of the area. 

The Committee was advised that since the last update report in April there had been a major contraction of the Government’s commitment to future levels of public expenditure and capital investment and this had had a negative effect on the delivery of the regeneration project, not only in terms of long term viability but the delays caused as each government department reviewed its priorities and expenditure commitment.  The Assistant Director advised that planning consent was granted in March, 2010 and the Project Team had expected to move quickly into the procurement phase when preferred development partners would be engaged to deliver the retail and residential developments within Phase 1.  It had however not been possible to procure a partner because no retail developer would be currently interested in the investment potential of the new facility until there was some certainty over the deliverability of the housing regeneration which would bring with it the population to make the shops profitable. 

The Committee was advised that progress on the scheme remained dependent upon the funding of the housing development of 71 affordable rent homes.  It may have been possible under other circumstances to build the homes for market sale rather than for affordable rent but this was no longer an option as the property market was already depressed and any sales at this stage would be significantly undervalued and would not represent best value in terms of utilising the Council’s assets.  Furthermore the majority of the proposed terms on Kennedy Park were required to be build for affordable rent to allow the decanting of the substandard housing currently existing in Wentworth Avenue and Marunden Green.

The Assistant Director concluded that the Regeneration Project remained a corporate priority for the Council and the funding priority for the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and the delay in progress was due to national and regional issues and not lack of effort on the part of the project team.  It was also emphasised that the delay was due to the restructuring and reorganising of HCA and hence the absence of a bidding process to secure funds rather than a negative decision or the lack of funds available. 

In the ensuing debate Members raised a number of comments/questions as follows (responses shown in italics):-

·  A Ward Member was particularly concerned about the delay in the regeneration of the site and stated that the purpose of the scheme was to re house residents.  He asked why it was not possible to demolish the existing houses and flats and build on the footprint of the site?  He also reminded the Committee that a 800 signature petition had been received from residents stating that they did not want the shops to be moved from their existing position.  He asked whether it would be necessary to call a referendum to force the Council to act on this issue. 

Communications with the HCA continued on a weekly basis and an answer had been promised – it was hoped that this would be received by the end of March 2011. 

·  A member questioned the possibility of placing residents in mobile homes while the existing site was redeveloped.  The Assistant Director commented that it would not be possible to force people to live in mobile homes and in any event he doubted that this would be a satisfactory resolution. He also confirmed that if the whole area were developed then it would be possible to build 120 homes but if the shops were retained then only 71 homes could be achieved. 

Resolved – That the progress on the delivery of the Britwell and Haymill Regeneration be noted.