Agenda item

(a) Windsor Road

(b) Trelawney Avenue

(c) Bath Road

(d) Gurney House

(a) That the progress made to date to redevelop or regenerate the sites included and appended to the report be noted.

(b) That the recommendations as listed specific to each site be approved:

Windsor Road (Appendix A)

(i) That the Strategic Director of Regeneration, Housing and Resources, following consultation with the lead Commissioner, be authorised to take all necessary steps to secure the making, submission, confirmation and implementation of the CPO of the third party land at 101, 107 and 109 Windsor Road under regeneration powers and the land required to deliver the Windsor Road Regeneration Strategy (following statutory process set down in the Highway Act 1980 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.) including;

· Publication and service of all notices

· Advertise the Order and submit it to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Acquisition of Land Act 1981.

· Negotiation with landowners.

· Setting out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the CPO.

· Where appropriate, seeking exclusions of land from the CPO

· Making arrangements for the presentation of the Council’s case for confirmation of the CPO at any Public Inquiry.

· Exercising the compulsory purchase powers authorised by the CPO by way of general vesting declaration and / or notices to treat and notices of Entry.

· Acquiring third party interests in the site by private treaty.

· Making any third party payments of compensation due pursuant to the national Compensation Code as a result of the implementation of the CPO. Compensation due to unidentified owner can be paid to the Crown.

(ii) That the Strategic Director of Regeneration, Housing and Resources, following consultation with the lead Commissioner, be authorised to appropriate to planning purposes the land in the ownership of Slough Borough Council which is no longer required for the purpose for which it was previously used, for use in connection with the Windsor Road Regeneration Strategy under Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972.

(iii) That subject to (i) and (ii) above, an update report is presented to Cabinet by September 2014 that identifies the preferred option for the housing development site between 81 and 111 Windsor Road.

(iv) That the Asset Management and Highways & Engineering departments work closely together to bring forward a detailed design which maximises the potential for improvement of the public realm as part of the scheme.

Trelawney Avenue (Appendix B)

(v) That it be noted that consultation has been undertaken with internal departments and other public bodies in relation to the option to create a community hub in Area A.

(vi) That it be noted that consultation has commenced with local residents, New Langley Community Group, Customer Senate and other stakeholders.

(vii) That an options appraisal that includes financial modelling be undertaken following the completion of the consultation process with a view to taking a report with recommendations to Cabinet by September 2014.

(viii) That the Cabinet confirms its commitment to the provision of new community facilities within the Trelawney Avenue Redevelopment Plan.

Bath Road (Appendix C)

(ix) That officers undertake a feasibility study and develop options to introduce residential development on the area of land that is located behind the road widening line.

Gurney House (Appendix D)

(x) That following completion of the procurement exercise, officers complete the submission of a full planning application for the Gurney House site to bring about the development of new, high quality family housing.

(xi) That a further report is brought to the September Cabinet meeting to advise members of the outcome and to determine a delivery mechanism for the scheme.

The Interim Head of Asset Management introduced a report which updated the Cabinet on the progress made with regards to ongoing regeneration activities at Windsor Road, Trelawney Avenue, Bath Road and Gurney House.

Windsor Road Regeneration Scheme

Commissioners noted the current position in relation to the scheme which aimed to reduce congestion by providing a four lane road and the infrastructure to facilitate associated regeneration projects. The Cabinet welcomed the fact that following detailed design, the objectives of the road widening scheme could be achieved without the demolition of properties between 97-127 Windsor Road although a thin strip of ground running through the front gardens would be required from 101, 107 and 109 Windsor Road by Compulsory Purchase Order, under regeneration powers, to deliver the Windsor Road Regeneration Strategy.

The Cabinet agreed the recommendations in the report, with the addition of the words “following consultation with the lead Commissioner” to recommendation (i), and further agreed that the Asset Management and Highways Engineering departments work closely together to ensure the design enhanced the public realm as far as possible.

Trelawney Avenue Redevelopment Plan

The Cabinet were informed of the progress made since the last report on the Redevelopment Plan in September 2013. It was noted that the consultation with internal departments and other public bodies had taken place and a public consultation would be taking place in May to seek views on the options of high quality housing and/or a community hub potentially including the co-location of a dental practice, GP practice, other NHS services, Police and community space. Commissioners discussed the progress made to date in terms of securing health facilities as part of the development; the consultation strategy; and potential delivery arrangements. The Cabinet renewed their commitment to the provision of community facilities within the redevelopment plan and noted that a further report would be received in September 2014 with the outcomes of the consultation and subsequent options appraisal.

Bath Road

Further to the Cabinet decision in February 2013, it was noted that the properties at 150-160 Bath Road had been demolished and the proposals for a rapid transport system along the A4 continued to be developed. Members were advised of the potential to introduce a residential development on the available land behind the road widening line and a feasibility study to consider the options was proposed. The Cabinet welcomed the progress that had been made and agreed to proceed with a feasibility study for option which would improve the landscape in the locality, provide some additional residential accommodation and maximise the financial potential of the asset. Members asked that the feasibility study included options for the land immediately adjacent to 150-160 Bath Road to ensure any proposals took into account the wider surroundings.

Gurney House

Further to the Cabinet report of January 2014, Members were informed that the site at the former Gurney House care home had been cleared and detailed planning design was being undertaken in regard to the size, number and layout of the new homes that could be provided on the site. Further feasibility work had been undertaken which concluded that 10 x four bedroomed semi-detached properties was the most financially attractive design and a tender exercise was underway to select an architect with a full planning application expected in the summer. The Cabinet agreed to proceed in the manner proposed and considered the potential of a subsidiary housing company developing the site, subject the feasibility study discussed elsewhere on the agenda.

Resolved –