Agenda item

(Housing Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-001-2014/15).

(1)        That the Annual Progress Report on the Council Housebuilding Programme for 2013/14 be noted.

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the Annual Progress Report on the Council Housebuilding Programme for 2013/14.

The Portfolio Holder reported that, since its formation in March 2013, the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee had considered a range of policies and strategies that would shape the future of the Council’s Housebuilding Programme, as well as the feasibility studies for phases 1 and 2 of the Programme. Amongst the documents that had been considered were the Development Strategy, Affordable Rents Policy, Design Standards, as well as policies on procurement, funding and accelerating the Council Housebuilding Programme. The Cabinet Committee had also considered matters such as the prioritisation of sites and the future use of any sites found not to be suitable for development, along with monitoring the risks from the Programme.

The Portfolio Holder stated that planning approval had been granted for four sites in phase I, which would see 23 new properties constructed at a cost of £3.9million. Work on the sites was anticipated to begin in September 2014 with completion approximately 14 months later. For phase II, a planning application would be submitted for 56 new homes at Burton Road, Loughton at a cost of £8.9million. It was anticipated that works would commence in March 2015 with completion in September 2016, if planning permission was granted. In addition, planning permission had been granted for 10 self-contained flats in Marden Close, Chigwell Row and the conversion of Faversham Hall, also in Chigwell, to two 1-bedroomed flats. The works were estimated to cost £610,000 and would begin in July 2014, with completion a year later.

The Portfolio Holder highlighted that significant progress had been achieved in the first twelve months of the Programme, which had laid the foundations for the Housebuilding Programme. As the main policies and procedures were now in place, the focus of the Cabinet Committee would be to consider further feasibility studies, and to monitor progress, expenditure and risks.

The Cabinet congratulated the Cabinet Committee on the progress that had been made and enquired whether there had been an increase in Right-to-Buy purchases and if the Programme was making up the shortfall? The Assistant Director of Housing (Property) reported that there had been 54 Council properties sold under the Right-to-Buy initiative during 2013/14 but the Council had not been able to replace all of those properties at the current point in time. The Housing Portfolio Holder stressed that whenever a possible development was considered by the Cabinet Committee, the relevant ward Councillors had always been invited by letter to attend the meeting and comment upon the proposals. A list of the Council-owned Garage sites being considered for development as part of the Programme would be made available to Members. The Leader welcomed the progress made with the Programme and looked forward to the first occupiers being able to move in to one of the new properties.

Decision:

(1)        That the Annual Progress Report on the Council Housebuilding Programme for 2013/14 be noted.

Reasons for Decision:

The terms of reference required the Cabinet Committee to monitor progress and expenditure of the Council’s Housebuilding Programme and report to the Cabinet on an annual basis.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

None, as the report merely noted the progress made with the Programme over the last twelve months.