Agenda item

(a)  That it be agreed in principle to make a Compulsory Purchase Order (a CPO) for the acquisition of land and rights within the area edged red on the draft plan entitled "Area to be referenced for Proposed (Tower and Ashbourne) Compulsory Purchase Order 2018";

(b)  That authority be given to the Director of Regeneration, following consultation with the Cabinet member for Corporate Finance & Housing to authorise officers to begin preparatory work to use its compulsory purchase powers, including serving requisitions on landowners and appointing land referencing agents to thoroughly investigate all land interests, the preparation of a Statement of Reasons and all other necessary documentation;

(c)  That a further report would come forward to the Cabinet recommending the making of a CPO, if necessary, in relation to specific land;

(d)  That it be noted that a scheme for the comprehensive redevelopment of the Site to deliver in the region of 195 units (the Scheme) will continue to be designed with the intention of full planning permission being applied for later in 2018;

(e)  That the CPO stages set out at section 6 of the report be noted.

The Service Lead Strategic Housing Services introduced a report that sought approval, in principal, to use compulsory purchase powers for the acquisition of land necessary for the delivery of the proposed redevelopment of Tower House and Ashbourne House.

The Appendix B, which contained exempt information and was in Part II of the agenda, summarised the status of negotiations with the remaining leaseholder.  There were currently three leaseholders and telecoms providers still on site and negotiations had been ongoing since 2015.  The Cabinet agreed that it was important to make progress with regards to the negotiations to enable the redevelopment of the site for much needed new housing.  It was therefore agreed in principle to make a CPO for the specified land should it not be possible to reach agreement by negotiation.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the recommendations were agreed.

Resolved –

(a)  That it be agreed in principle to make a Compulsory Purchase Order (a CPO) for the acquisition of land and rights within the area edged red on the draft plan entitled "Area to be referenced for Proposed (Tower and Ashbourne) Compulsory Purchase Order 2018";

(b)  That authority be given to the Director of Regeneration, following consultation with the Cabinet member for Corporate Finance & Housing to authorise officers to begin preparatory work to use its compulsory purchase powers, including serving requisitions on landowners and appointing land referencing agents to thoroughly investigate all land interests, the preparation of a Statement of Reasons and all other necessary documentation;

(c)  That a further report would come forward to the Cabinet recommending the making of a CPO, if necessary, in relation to specific land;

(d)  That it be noted that a scheme for the comprehensive redevelopment of the Site to deliver in the region of 195 units (the Scheme) will continue to be designed with the intention of full planning permission being applied for later in 2018;

(e)  That the CPO stages set out at section 6 of the report be noted.