Agenda item

(Housing Services Manager – Development) To present a report to the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee regarding the appropriation of the Phase 5 sites.

That the schemes within Phase 5 be approved to be appropriated, noting the schemes that had already been completed.

Rochelle Hoyte, Service Manager, Housing Development presented a report to the Cabinet Committee and advised that appropriation was the procedure under the Local Government Act 1972 and Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to change the purpose for which the land was held for one statutory purpose to another, provided that the land was no longer required for the purpose for which it was held immediately before the appropriation.

She stated as part of the Council House Building process the schemes within Phase 5 needed to be appropriated to show the difference of use. If any of the sites did not go ahead for building they would be reviewed as some of the garage sites were not fit for purpose, in that they were not big enough to hold a car, therefore these sites were being looked at for extra parking spaces with electrical vehicle charging points. Winters Way was one of the sites that would be considered for extra parking so there would be a change of use for this site.

Councillor N Bedford stated that if any of the garage sites were pulled down and into extra parking with electrical charging points that these could potentially be used as football pitches and the charging points would get damaged so hard landscaping would needed to be thought about to discourage any football games otherwise residents would complain.

R Hoyte advised that the team had been discussing ideas and suggestions had been made for bollards that could be operated by a fob system, looking at the landscaping to improve in in and around the garage areas. There will be plans and drawings for any sites going down this route and it would be discussed with members before being approved.

Councillor D Wixley stated that he was being approached by residents particularly in the case of Castell Road, Loughton. A resident had been trying to make contact with the Council to ask some questions and left a message on the 25 February and was still waiting for a reply. He asked if he could send the details through to the Service Manager for her to deal with outside of the meeting. He then referred to page 86 of the agenda and advised that Hornbeam Close (site A), Loughton was in fact in Buckhurst Hill.

He echoed what was said earlier about parking stress as this would be an issue for some of these sites and in the ward he represented it should be taken into account as it was a quality of life issue if residents were fighting over parking spaces and the people who rent the garages needed to be thought about and as to where they will now be able to park.

R Hoyte advised that the housing development email address was given to raise queries and officers have been sent a number of these queries to pick up over the last few days, so it may well be that this residents query was being dealt with, but Councillor Wixley should send her over the residents queries and she would make sure they were answered. She stated that there were lots of queries as this email was for all of the sites and they were not being ignored it was a case of working through the list in the order they were received.

She advised that a lot of the sites would be having parking surveys done which will be looked at in the day and night time and parking stress would be taken into consideration in a number of areas before any site went forward for planning.

Decision:

That the schemes within Phase 5 be approved to be appropriated, noting the schemes that have already been completed.

Reason for Decision:

To enable the sites within phase 5 to progress.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

There were no other options for action.