Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report (CHB-009-2019/20).

That the contents of this Progress Report on Phases 4 to 6 of the Council House Building Programme be noted and presented to the Cabinet in line with the Terms of Reference of the Council House Building Cabinet Committee.  

The Service Manager, Housing Management and Home Ownership presented a report the Cabinet Committee, she advised that the report set out the progress that had been made across Phase 4 of the Council Housebuilding programme that had either been completed, were on-site or were currently being procured.

Package 4.1 comprised of 14x units that had been tendered and were approved at CHBCC on 19 December 2019. Package 4.2 comprised on 22x units and were now being tendered the outcome would be reported to the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee (CHBCC) meeting in June 2020. Package 4.3 comprised of 49x units, previously 31x units. This package had been reviewed, resulting in some additional potential units being identified. The proposals were being progressed for planning submission, tender and reporting to the CHBCC. Package 4.4 comprised of 5x units and were now being technically progressed.

Phase 4 – package 4.1

The first group of sites within package 4.1 were competitively tendered and presented for approval at the 19 December 2019 CHBCC meeting. Package 4.1 relates to sites at Chequers Road (Site A - 3 x Properties), Bushfields (2 x Properties), Loughton. Package 2 – Chester Road (3 x Properties), Loughton. Package 3 – Queensway (4 x Properties) and Millfield (2 x Properties), Ongar, delivering the first 14 properties.

A pre-start meeting has been held, and contracts have now been issued for signing. Currently, post-tender and client changes are being priced to enable the Contractor to take possession imminently.

Phase 4 – package 4.2

Package 4.2 were currently out for tender to deliver 22 properties, comprising Hornbeam Close (B) – 3x units, Hornbeam House – 2x units, Bourne House – 2x units, Etheridge Road – 3 x units, Denny Avenue – 3 x units, Beechfield Walk – 5 x units and Kirby Close – 4 x units.

The role of the ‘Principal Architect’ and their involvement in the procurement of the sub-consultants, surveys and the associated scope of works had been reviewed and amended following which, it was anticipated that this may result in c£150k to c£200k of savings in the fees going forward.

Phase 4 – package 4.3

Package 4.3 comprised of Lower Alderton Hall Lane – 2x units, Inclusion of Lower Alderton Hall Lane was pending. This site was currently awaiting planning consent to be released pending the resolution with regards to the Local Plan and Natural England.

Pick Hill, Waltham Abbey – 2x units are progressing now potential drainage outfalls have been identified. The Council have reviewed the potential scope of the site at Ladyfields, Loughton, which previously had approval for six units, was now being re-planned to deliver c17x units. Woollard Street, Waltham Abbey, had been redesigned as the consented scheme was undeliverable as the ridge height exceeded the permissible height. Pentlow Way, Buckhurst Hill – 7x units and Chequers Road (B) – 5x units, have been delayed pending agreement with Thames Water to permit build over contracts which have only recently been confirmed. Chequers Road (B) was consented for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23