Agenda item

To consider the attached report (AMED- 002-2014/15).

The Cabinet Committee noted a report from the Asset Management Co-ordination Group on the progress made with the development of the Council’s property assets.

The Assistant Director (Asset Management & Economic Development) reported orally on further progress which had been achieved since the matters had been considered by the Group.

(1)        Langston Road Retail Park

Detailed advice had been received from accountants, Price Waterhouse Coopers, which was being co-ordinated with solicitors Berwin Leighton Paisner, who had both been appointed to this project to ensure that the Council had the most tax efficient and proper legal entity to jointly take this proposal forward with Polofind Limited, who were the Council’s joint development partners. Other work had progressed and the Council was close to being able to recommend the appointment of a construction project manager who would be a key member of the team appointing other professionals.

Planning matters which were reserved by the outline planning approval were also being dealt with such as the highways notices being prepared and further reports of the contamination had been commissioned. Our partners were moving forward on marketing and a draft brochure had been prepared for approval.

(2)       Oakwood Hill Depot

The planning application for the new Council Depot at Oakwood Hill had been referred to the District Development Control Committee on 13 August 2014.

(3)        Pyrles Lane Nursery

This site would be available for development once the Oakwood Hill Depot was constructed. A new planning application for a residential development was being prepared and would be submitted in the near future.

(4)        St John’s Road

Frontier Estates Limited had submitted detailed heads of terms for approval by all three councils, namely Essex County Council, Epping Forest District Council and Epping Town Council. Epping Town Council had approved the heads of terms and there was a report being considered by the District Council’s Cabinet meeting on the 21 July 2014.

The development which had been proposed was a small food store which would be anchoring the scheme, a small multiplex cinema, a town square, restaurants, residential accommodation, offices which would include the Town Council and a public car park.

Assuming the heads of terms were agreed then the next step would be to instruct solicitors to have a joint development agreement between the developer and all three Councils. The developer would sign the agreement subject to planning approval.

(5)        Waste Contractor’s Depot

The Council had appointed Biffa as the new waste contractor which would commence in November 2014. Biffa would operate from their own depot sites but they would still be able to use the Council’s current depot at Langston Road until 31 March 2015.

(6)        North Weald Airfield

There was a separate report regarding aviation at the airfield on the agenda.

(7)        Torrington Drive

The head lease of the Sainsbury store had been purchased from Stobarts and the store had a major uplift with the retail units at the front being turned into a car park with 49 spaces.

(8)        Winston Churchill Public House

A Development Agreement and Section 106 Agreement had been signed by the Council and CK Property Investments (Loughton) Limited. Planning conditions had now been satisfied by the developer and demolition had commenced at the site.

(9)        Broadway Car Parks / Burton Road Depot

A number of proposals were being investigated by the Director of Communities. The Council had now taken possession of the former jewellers shop which was in the walkway and plans were going ahead to widen the access between the Broadway and the Burton Road car park.

(10)      Lindsey House Epping

The Council had now taken possession of this property and approval was granted on 23 June 2014 to market the property which was being progressed.

(11)      Town Mead Depot

The Council had appointed Peter Brett Associates as consultants, who were experts on flooding and a topographical survey had been completed of the depot and adjoining land. The Consultants had been in discussion with the Environment Agency to allay any fears regarding flooding on this land and a report would be issued on the possible uses of the site in the near future.

(12)      Church Hill Former Car Park

The sale of this site had now been completed.

(13)      Leader Lodge

This site had been remarketed which had been very successful. A Portfolio Holder Decision would be published shortly to confirm the sale of the property.

Resolved:

(1)          That the monitoring report on the development of the Council’s property assets be noted; and

Reasons for Decision:

To comply with the Cabinet Committee’s previous request to monitor the development of the Council’s property assets periodically.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

None, as this monitoring report was for information only.