Agenda item

(a)  That Tower House and Ashbourne Houses be demolished;

(b)  That the allocation of funds of £1.57m in the 2018/19 HRA capital programme to this project be approved in addition to the underspend (estimated £2.68m) to be carried forward from 2017/18 to complete the emptying of the blocks, including the potential requirement to take CPO action;

(c)  That the allocation of funds of £1.57m in the 2018/19 HRA capital programme be recommended to full Council;

(d)  That officers proceed with submitting a planning application for a new scheme; and

(e)  That the Director for Finance & Resources, Neighbourhood Services Lead and Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance & Housing, in conjunction with the recommendations of the Housing Option Appraisal, determine the funding for the remodelling of the site.

(f)  That an update report be provided to the Cabinet on the indicative work programme and design prior to the submission of a planning application.

The Service Lead Neighbourhoods introduced an update on the rehousing of tenants and buyback of leasehold properties of Tower and Ashbourne Houses and the future redevelopment of the site.

It had previously been agreed that due to a range of compliance and anti-social behaviour issues, tenants would be decanted from the two blocks and the options be explored for redevelopment.  An Initial Demolition Notice had been issued in 2015 and the Cabinet was asked to confirm that both blocks be demolished.  All tenants had been successfully rehoused and all but two leaseholders had accepted offers and moved out.  If negotiations with them broke down, the option of applying for Compulsory Purchase Orders would need to be considered.  A detailed option appraisal for affordable housing had been carried out and a proposal of 195 units had been developed to replace the existing 104 social units.

The Cabinet welcomed the progress that had been made and asked a number of questions about the state of the negotiations with the remaining two leaseholders and the impact on the timetable for the redevelopment.  A firm timescale could not be confirmed until negotiations, or any possible CPO action, were concluded and it was therefore agreed that the Cabinet receive an update report on the work programme and designs prior to the submission of a planning application.  Members agreed that the necessary action be taken to move forward with the demolition and redevelopment and all of the recommendations were approved.

Resolved –

(a)  That Tower House and Ashbourne Houses be demolished;

(b)  That the allocation of funds of £1.57m in the 2018/19 HRA capital programme to this project be approved in addition to the underspend (estimated £2.68m) to be carried forward from 2017/18 to complete the emptying of the blocks, including the potential requirement to take CPO action;

(c)  That the allocation of funds of £1.57m in the 2018/19 HRA capital programme be recommended to full Council;

(d)  That officers proceed with submitting a planning application for a new scheme; and

(e)  That the Director for Finance & Resources, Neighbourhood Services Lead and Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance & Housing, in conjunction with the recommendations of the Housing Option Appraisal, determine the funding for the remodelling of the site.

(f)  That an update report be provided to the Cabinet on the indicative work programme and design prior to the submission of a planning application.