County Borough of Blaenau Gwent s2

COUNTY BOROUGH OF BLAENAU GWENT

REPORT TO: /

THE LEADER & MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE committee

REPORT SUBJECT: /

PROPOSED HOUSING STRATEGY TO BE ADOPTED FOR THE MARKETING & DISPOSAL OF THE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SITES AT THE WORKS, EBBW VALE

REPORT AUTHOR: /

PAUL MILES

HEAD OF ESTATES & STRATEGIC ASSET MANAGEMENT

LEAD OFFICER/ DEPARTMENT /

CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER

Summary Report

1.0 /

PURPOSE OF REPORT

To seek Council approval for the adoption and implementation of the Housing Strategy for the marketing & disposal of the residential development sites at The Works, Ebbw Vale. A copy of The Housing Strategy is attached as Appendix 1.
2.0 /

LINK TO CORPORATE STRATEGIES

The Housing Strategy has been adopted by The Programme Board who lead the Framework Joint Venture Agreement made between Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and Welsh Government for the reclamation and redevelopment of the former Corus Steelworks site at Ebbw Vale, now known as The Works.
3.0 / SUMMARY/PROPOSALS
The Housing Strategy sets out proposals as to the development, marketing & disposal of the residential development sites (including the potential housing land that is contained within sites designated as Mixed Use) on The Works.
4.0 /

RECOMMENDATIONS

That Members approve the adoption and implementation of the Housing Strategy for the marketing & disposal of residential development land at The Works.

Detailed Report

1.0

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BACKGROUND

1.1 / The Housing Strategy is a proposal for the future development of the land allocated for residential and mixed uses at The Works.
1.2 / The Works has approximately 12.00 acres of residential development land and a further 5.00 acres of mixed use land that in part could be used for housing, and the proposed Housing Strategy identifies the options to maximise the potential of this land.
1.3 / The original Master Plan and outline planning consent for The Works included proposals for up to 720 new homes. As the site has developed over time with uses not envisaged in the original Master Plan, particularly for educational purposes, the availability of land for new homes has fallen.
1.4 / However the remaining available housing land at The Works is still of sufficient size to cater for a range of housing types, tenures, and procurement methods.

2.0

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PRESENT POSITION

2.1 / There are a number of housing options that could be considered, but in the first instance it is proposed to proceed with promoting sites to private sector volume house-builders constructing traditional 2, 3, or 4 bed houses, and Housing Associations providing affordable housing in 1 or 2 bed houses & apartments, available at intermediate rents and under low cost home ownership schemes.
2.2 / Aside the scale & nature of any proposed new residential development on site, the Housing Strategy also investigated the statutory & market options for the extent of Affordable Housing provision on site, & the impact of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
3.0 /

PROPOSALS

3.1 / The Programme Board, who lead the Framework Joint Venture Agreement made between Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and Welsh Government for The Works, have resolved to adopt the Housing Strategy, with the significant additional provisions that house-builders are invited to submit proposals on a higher level of the Code for Sustainable Homes as well as the more common market level, and a final decision on the way forward considered on the basis of a comparison of the results.
4.0 /

STATEMENT ON FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

4.1 / It is anticipated that the disposal of the residential development sites will generate capital receipts.
4.2 / However, as the sites were purchased and reclaimed using Welsh Government derelict land reclamation funding, there is an after-value re-payment liability with the sale of the land under the Explanatory Memorandum on Derelict Land Reclamation Grants, and any capital receipts generated by disposals will be recovered by Welsh Government.
5.0 /

STAFFING/PERSONNEL ISSUES

5.1 / Any Officer time and other resources involved in progressing the Housing Strategy is funded through The Works budget, which itself is supported by Welsh Government.
6.0 /

CONSULTATION

6.1 / The following have been consulted in respect of the proposal and recommendation set out in this report.
Human Resources / Chief Legal Officer/ Monitoring Officer / Chief Finance Officer/ S.151 / Public Interest Test Monitoring Officer Approved / Other
n/a / P / P / CAMWG
CMT
6.2 / Housing development is an integral part of the original re-development plans for The Works previously considered and adopted by the Council.
6.3 / Consultation at Officer level has taken place with Planning, Housing Strategy, and Technical Services, who have each contributed in part to the shaping and direction of The Housing Strategy.
7.0 /

STATEMENT CONFIRMING THAT CONSIDERATION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE RELEVANT LEGISLATION

7.1 / The disposal of the property has been considered within the context of the Strategy & Procedures for the disposal of Surplus Land & Property and the Acquisition of Land & Property 2012-2015.
8.0 /

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

8.1 / That Members approve the adoption and implementation of the Housing Strategy for the marketing & disposal of residential development land at The Works.
DYLAN JOHN
CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER
15th April 2013
PJM/SL

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