Agenda item

(a)  That subject to planning requirements and highways restrictions associated with car parking spaces, note that the eventual use of the proposed third floor of the SBC element could be either 350m2 of office space or 5 residential apartments;

(b)  That the disposal of the freehold interest in land in Trelawney Avenue (as outlined in red on the plan in Appendix C and described as the “development site”) to Karter Developments Limited, subject to planning, for a sum to be agreed between parties based on independent valuations carried out February 2018 as set out in the Heads of Terms (attached as Confidential Appendix B) be agreed;

(c)  That it be noted that a new Council Hub, healthcare facilities and housing would be built on the site by KDL;

(d)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration to appropriate the development site from the HRA for a sum to be agreed once the sale price is finalised;

(e)  That subject to approval of (a) and (b), delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration following consultation with the Leader of the Council and the s151 Officer to agree the final configuration of the building, all financial and non-financial terms of the HoTs and the Building Agreement, agree the final red line plan for disposal and the final value of investment by the Council;

(f)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration to approve all financial and non-financial terms in relation to the disposal of the 4 houses funded by the Council which will be offered to the HRA and thereafter to James Elliman Homes.  In the event that neither party be interested, the fall back position would be an open market sale;

(g)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration to approve all financial and non-financial terms in relation to the proposed purchase and subsequent disposal of the apartments above the SBC freehold site;

(h)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration, acting in consultation with the s151 Officer and the Leader of the Council to introduce, approve and agree a project contingency of up to 15% of the total project cost for the SBC element (as set out in the associated Part II report), provided such an increase did not impact on the viability of the project or the Council’s short-term financial plan;

(i)  That any profit after the land transactions in (a) and (f) would be reinvested into construction of the Council element of the new Hub and 4 houses with the balance funded by the Council;

(j)  That it be noted that officers would continue to explore options to collocate the library within the SBC hub.

A report was considered on the business case for the redevelopment of land in Trelawney Avenue and Meadow Road.  The proposal was to agree Head of Terms with Karter Developments Ltd (KDL) for the disposal of the freehold interest in the site in order to develop new healthcare/commercial facilities and housing and to seek approval in principle to enter into a Development Agreement with KDL to build Council facilities to include a new Council Hub, 4 houses and at least 5 apartments, subject to planning.

The plans for the site included a GP surgery, pharmacy, hub with community space and housing provision including apartments above the hub.  Officers would continue to explore the possibility of co-locating library services.  The first floor plans included office accommodation for 35 workstations in line with the Localities Strategy that was approved earlier in the meeting.  The options for the second floor were either five apartments or office space for a further 55 workstations.  It scheme was still in the pre-planning phase and agreement of the Draft Head of Terms would allow the project to progress with a view to the submission of a planning application in June 2019 with a provisional completion date of 2021.

The Draft Heads of Terms and detailed financial information were set out in Appendices A and B in Part II of the agenda as they contained exempt information.  The Cabinet agreed to briefly exclude the press and public during discussion on this item to clarify some matters in the appendices before taking the decision in Part I.

The Cabinet reviewed the projected revenue costs for the project but noted that the hub could accommodate 70 or 160 staff depending on the option chose which would offset accommodation costs elsewhere in the Council.

Lead Members commented that the hub provided an excellent opportunity to put facilities back into the heart of the local community, particularly a GP surgery in a part of Langley with relatively high demand for primary care services.  The One Public Estate approach of working with health partners with neighbourhood and possibly library services was supported.

After due consideration, the Cabinet agreed the recommendation to progress the redevelopment and hub plans.

Resolved –

(a)  That subject to planning requirements and highways restrictions associated with car parking spaces, note that the eventual use of the proposed third floor of the SBC element could be either 350m2 of office space or 5 residential apartments;

(b)  That the disposal of the freehold interest in land in Trelawney Avenue (as outlined in red on the plan in Appendix C and described as the “development site”) to Karter Developments Limited, subject to planning, for a sum to be agreed between parties based on independent valuations carried out February 2018 as set out in the Heads of Terms (attached as Confidential Appendix B) be agreed;

(c)  That it be noted that a new Council Hub, healthcare facilities and housing would be built on the site by KDL;

(d)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration to appropriate the development site from the HRA for a sum to be agreed once the sale price is finalised;

(e)  That subject to approval of (a) and (b), delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration following consultation with the Leader of the Council and the s151 Officer to agree the final configuration of the building, all financial and non-financial terms of the HoTs and the Building Agreement, agree the final red line plan for disposal and the final value of investment by the Council;

(f)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration to approve all financial and non-financial terms in relation to the disposal of the 4 houses funded by the Council which will be offered to the HRA and thereafter to James Elliman Homes.  In the event that neither party be interested, the fall back position would be an open market sale;

(g)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration to approve all financial and non-financial terms in relation to the proposed purchase and subsequent disposal of the apartments above the SBC freehold site;

(h)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration, acting in consultation with the s151 Officer and the Leader of the Council to introduce, approve and agree a project contingency of up to 15% of the total project cost for the SBC element (as set out in the associated Part II report), provided such an increase did not impact on the viability of the project or the Council’s short-term financial plan;

(i)  That any profit after the land transactions in (a) and (f) would be reinvested into construction of the Council element of the new Hub and 4 houses with the balance funded by the Council;

(j)  That it be noted that officers would continue to explore options to co-locate the library within the SBC hub.