Issue - meetings

The Committee considered a report which sought full budget approval for the redevelopment of 53-67 Stanstead Road to provide affordable family accommodation in line with the identified needs on the Council’s housing register.

An initial budget was approved in March 2023. Since then work had been undertaken with architects and consultants to prepare the scheme for the submission of a planning application. The tenants at the existing properties had either been moved to alternative suitable accommodation or were awaiting relocation to a new scheme.

It was noted that the requested budget of just over £2m equated to around £500k per property. The proposed budget included a healthy contingency. The increase in build costs over recent years had meant that costs for development were more aligned with the costs of purchasing properties on the open market. Properties purchased on the open market would though also have required further investments to meet net zero carbon targets. Redevelopment of the site was also recommended due to existing building being beyond economical repair.

The total scheme cost to sales value on the development was 85%, meaning building costs were expected to be lower than purchasing equivalent units on the open market.

An update on the appropriation process was also provided, with approval being sought to proceed with the appropriation of the land from housing to planning purposes ahead of the submission of a planning application.

The report also asked for approval for the appropriation of land for planning purposes for the Pelham House site. Consent had been received from the Secretary of State to proceed with the appropriation of the site, member approval was also required. A planning application for the site was approved at Planning Committee on 7 November 2024, work would begin shortly on tendering the works contract.

In addition to the recommendations set out in the report, officers presented, with approval from the Chair, the following recommendation to the committee:

F) Officers prepare detailed proposals for the development of the land at 53 – 67 Stanstead Road in Caterham and submit a planning application to redevelop the site.

R E S O L V E D – that:

A.    a budget of £2,010,000 from the Housing Revenue Account capital budget be approved.

B.    the appropriation of land for planning purposes at 53-67 Stanstead Road, set out in Appendix A of the report, be approved, subject to consent from the Secretary of State (SoS) for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

C.   the appropriation of land for planning purposes at Pelham House, as set out in Appendix C of the report, be approved.

D.   authority be delegated to the Director of Resources, to undertake the necessary legal and internal processes to deliver the appropriation.

E.    authority be delegated to the Director of Resources to appoint professional consultants and award the necessary contracts to take the scheme forward.

F.    officers prepare detailed proposals for the development of the land at 53-67 Stanstead Road in Caterham and submit a planning application to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 222