Agenda item

(The Director of Communities) To consider the attached report (CHB-008-2014/15).

The Assistant Director of Housing (Property) presented a report to the Cabinet Committee he advised that each of the 8 sites were presented as individual feasibility studies, which identified the number of units and the mix that would be achievable for each site. At this stage, Members were asked to consider the merits of each site and agree which were to progress for inclusion in a future phase of the Council House-building Programme in line with the Policy on Prioritisation of Sites.

Ward Members agreed that the Pyrles Lane (Site A) would be a good site to progress as it was constantly used for fly tipping and it would smarten up the area. Councillor Pond suggested that the District Council may want to discuss with the Town Council the possibility of developing the adjacent allotment gardens for affordable housing as these were difficult to let as allotments.

Decision:

(1)        That the Cabinet Committee considered a revised feasibility study and viability assessment for the site at Hornbeam House, Buckhurst Hill, which took into account the Cabinet Committees comments made at the meeting on 13 October 2014 for consideration to be included in a future phase of the Council House-building Programme:

(a)          Hornbeam House, Buckhurst Hill – Garages 1-22

That the Cabinet Committee considered the revised layout of this site and agreed that this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

 (2)       That the Cabinet Committee considered the viability of each of the 7 (seven) individual feasibility studies taken from the Cabinet approved list of Primary Sites, as listed below, for consideration for inclusion in a future phase of the Council House-building Programme:

(a)          Chester Road, Debden - Garages 654-675

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(b)          Etheridge Road, Debden - Garages 676-712

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(c)          Langley Meadows Amenity Area, Loughton - Sites A & B

Site A - That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

Site B -  That the Cabinet Committee agreed that this was not a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage due to Thames Water sewer apparatus on the site and issues with the loss of parking in the area. It was therefore agreed that Site B would be used for open car parking spaces.

 (d)      Pyrles Lane, Loughton (Site A) - Garages 1-12

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(e)        Pyrles Lane, Loughton (Site B) - Garages 82-109

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(f)        Hillyfields, Loughton - Garages 13-24

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

(g)       Thatchers Close, Loughton

That the Cabinet Committee agreed this was a viable site to progress to a detailed planning stage.

Reasons for Decision:

At its meeting in August 2014, the Cabinet Committee asked that each of the sites on the Primary List of approved sites be progressed to feasibility stage to create a bank of sites for future phases of the House-building Programme. The 8 sites included in this report, made up of one site at Hornbeam House, Buckhurst Hill that is a revised design previously considered by the Cabinet Committee in October 2014 and the last 7 sites from the 22 sites that were completed in Loughton and Buckhurst Hill along with the Burton Road site back in November 2013, albeit not reported at that time. Each site is presented on its own merits at this stage. However, when all of the feasibility studies have been considered, the Cabinet Committee will then be asked to batch the sites in line with the Policy on Prioritisation of Sites.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

1.            Not to progress with any of the schemes presented in this report.

2.            To develop the sites with a different number of homes, or with an alternative mix of property types or parking allocation.