Agenda item

Farnborough & Crofton ward

Report HPR 2022/003

The Committee received an urgent report providing an update on scheme funding in relation to York Rise, including increased funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA). This would enable MAR Ltd, the appointed design and build contractor, to proceed with the construction of 35 affordable homes at York Rise, Orpington, BR6 8PR. The scheme had been granted planning permission at the December 2021 Development Control Committee meeting.  The Chairman of Executive, Resources and Contracts PDS Committee had given consent for this report to be taken under Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules - Rule 4 of the Urgency Procedure, given the importance of providing affordable housing at this critical time and the need to start work on-site in the next week to secure the additional GLA capital funding.

Officers reported that, allowing for the increased costs, the scheme was still viable and the Renewal Recreation and Housing Portfolio Holder confirmed this. The Council’s contribution remained the same at just over £6m.

Councillor Charles Joel, ward Councillor for Farnborough and Crofton, set out a number of concerns about the site and the proposed development, including  the presence of air raid shelters under the site, difficulty of access due to the topography of the site, outstanding planning conditions and inadequate car parking. Officers confirmed that they had worked with the contractor to address these issues, and discussions had been held with Mytime Active to secure additional parking facilities.

RESOLVED that the Executive be recommended to -

(1) Note the progress of the project as set out within the report.

(2) Approve a supplementary capital estimate of £3,174k. as set out in the accompanying Part 2 Report, under the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rule 4 of the Urgency procedure.

(3) Approve the revised financing of the scheme as set out in paragraph 8.5 of the report, noting that there is no change to the internal loan of £6,064k from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account.

(4) Note that the land appropriation value has been set by independent valuation at £390k.

(5) Approve the utilisation of a further £314,080.89 Section 106 contributions.

(6) Approve the varied Contract Award to Module-AR (as originally set out in report No HPR2021/032 B, 30^th June 2021) as detailed in the accompanying Part 2 report, for the Design and Build contract using the LHC NH2 Framework

(7) Grant delegated authority to the Director of Renewal, Recreation and Housing to proceed to procure and/or contract award for additional consultancy services as required to bring about completion of this scheme, provided they are allowed for within the financial budget and subject to agreement as required through the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules with the Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation & Housing, the Assistant Director Governance & Contracts, the Director of Corporate Services and Governance and the Director of Finance.

(8) Delegate Authority to the Director of Corporate Services and Governance to authorise any legal measures needed to develop the scheme

(9) Approve the revised financing of the scheme as set out in paragraph 8.5 of the report, noting that there is no change to the internal loan of £6,064k from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account.

(Councillor Charles Joel requested that his abstention be recorded.)