Agenda item

Report DRR19/006

The Committee considered a report requesting the approval in principle of the Council’s Executive for the use of compulsory purchase powers in order to assemble all land interests and rights required to facilitate delivery of the redevelopment scheme at Opportunity Site G in a timely manner. 

On 17th July 2017, the Council’s Executive approved the detailed terms of the development agreement and lease for the redevelopment scheme at Opportunity Site G.  Full Council subsequently approved an allocation of £24.3m to the capital programme at its meeting on 11th December 2017 for the purpose of acquiring properties within the red line area of Phase 1 of Opportunity Site G, following which the Council’s development team had been liaising with property owners within the development site to exercise the Council’s Duty of Care to residents directly impacted by the proposed redevelopment. Progress continued to be made on site acquisitions and relocations with a total of six residential properties in Ethelbert Close purchased to date.  In accordance with the terms of the development agreement, Countryside Properties submitted the planning application for the scheme, which was currently under consideration by the Council’s Development Management team and it was envisaged that use of the Council's powers to acquire land by a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) might be required in order to assemble all of the land interests and rights needed to develop the Scheme in a timely manner.  An ‘In Principle’ decision was therefore sought from the Council’s Executive to begin preparatory and planning work to use the Council’s compulsory purchase powers for all the land interests not yet in the ownership or control of the Council needed to facilitate the Scheme.

In considering the report, the Chairman asked how residents affected by the Compulsory Purchase Order had been kept informed, and the Head of Renewal confirmed that all landowners had been provided with a guide to the process and were receiving regular progress reports.  In response to a question from a Member, the Head of Renewal confirmed that work was underway to negotiate with property owners within the development site, where it had been estimated that there were approximately 77 property interests (both freehold and leasehold).  As the area had been identified by the Local Authority as a development site since 2010, it was not anticipated that there would be any major issues in acquiring the necessary land interests and rights.  A full risk assessment process had been undertaken as part of the project planning process, and an Equality Impact Assessment was underway to ensure that this process did not discriminate or disadvantage property owners within the development site.  A Member queried whether challenges to the Local Plan could impact the Local Authority’s progress in assembling the necessary land interests and rights.  The Chief Planner advised that the Local Plan had been adopted following a stringent examination process; it was not uncommon for judicial reviews to be brought by developers in respect of a Local Plan and if this was the case, the Local Authority would seek legal advice. 

Further progress reports in acquiring the necessary land interests and rights would be provided to the Renewal, Recreation and Housing PDS Committee when available and this would include any plans to use compulsory purchase powers.  

RESOLVED that Members’ comments be provided to the Council’s Executive.