Agenda item

Regeneration and redevelopment of Berkeley House and St Mary's Court, Spring Boroughs

B Copy herewith

Decision:

 

2.1    Cabinet:

 

(a)     Approved the regeneration and redevelopment of Berkeley House and St Mary’s Court, by Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) on behalf of the Council, including the demolition of the existing seven blocks of flats and the construction of 126 new affordable homes, within the financial envelope presented in the exempt report Appendix 6, in accordance with the proposals set out in the planning application for this scheme, described as ‘The Roof Gardens’, approved by the Council’s Planning Committee on 30 July 2019;

 

(b)      Approved the publication of a formal demolition notice for Berkeley House and St Mary’s Court (affecting the seven blocks of flats within the area identified in the plan that is shown edged red in Appendix 1) and the subsequent demolition of each block of flats as it becomes vacant;

 

(c)      Resolved to make a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), in accordance with s226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, for the acquisition of the land and third party interests within the area identified in the plan that is shown edged red in Appendix 1 in order to enable the regeneration of the Berkeley House and St Mary’s Court site and the development of ‘The Roof Gardens’ scheme;

   

(d)      Delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing & Wellbeing, the Borough Secretary & Monitoring Officer and the Chief Finance Officer, the authority to effect the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO and to take all necessary steps to give effect to the CPO including the payment of any compensation in relation to the land shown on the plan in Appendix 1 including, but not limited to, the procedural steps described in Paragraph 4.3.10 of this report;

 

(e)     Delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Wellbeing, the Borough Secretary & Monitoring Officer and the Chief Finance Officer the authority to appoint external professional assistance if necessary to meet the requirements of paragraph 4.3.10 of this report;

 

(f)      Considered and took account of the consultation feedback pursuant to Appendix 4 of this report;

 

(g)      Approved the proposed capital scheme budget of £15.9m which will include the scheme costs involved in the acquisition of leasehold properties, development costs i.e. standard construction costs, demolition and asbestos removal, any potential archaeology fees and finally, location construction costs;

 

 

(h)     Delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Wellbeing and the Chief Finance Officer, authority to approve the release of the relevant funds from the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme following the procurement process and outcomes within the financial envelope presented in exempt report Appendix 6; 

 

(i)       Delegated to the Head of Housing & Wellbeing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing & Wellbeing and the Chief Finance Officer, the authority to determine the rent levels and services charges for the new rented homes, based on the outcome of the Council’s application to Homes England for capital funding to support the proposed development of ‘The Roof Gardens’.  The proposal is for “affordable” rents (80% of open market rents) but capped at a level which is no higher than the Local Housing Allowance rate; and

 

(j)       Agreed to accept further reports to future meetings of Cabinet on any issues that may require further consideration and decision by Cabinet.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Hibbert as the relevant Cabinet Member presented the report.  Seven blocks were to be demolished and 126 new homes built, as approved by Planning Committee in July 2019.  The demolition would be separate from the construction to allow for archaeological investigation.  Tenants would have the right to return and resident leaseholders would be protected.  Councillor Hibbert thanked Helen Town, Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) and NBC officers for their hard work in bringing this to fruition.

 

Councillor Stone as the ward councillor stated that the flats had been an eyesore for years and were not fit for purpose.  The new development would be welcomed, although time and resources would be required to reassure residents, since there would be significant disruption.

 

Councillor Stone expressed concern that the social rents option had been discounted.  The government had capped benefits, but not rents, resulting in poverty.  She also warned against allowing ‘gentrification’ of the area, since it was a prime site, close to the town centre and railway station.

 

The Borough Secretary advised that Appendix 6 should be considered in private session, before returning to agree the recommendations in public.

 

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

2.1    Cabinet:

 

(a)     Approved the regeneration and redevelopment of Berkeley House and St Mary’s Court, by Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) on behalf of the Council, including the demolition of the existing seven blocks of flats and the construction of 126 new affordable homes, within the financial envelope presented in the exempt report Appendix 6, in accordance with the proposals set out in the planning application for this scheme, described as ‘The Roof Gardens’, approved by the Council’s Planning Committee on 30 July 2019;

 

(b)      Approved the publication of a formal demolition notice for Berkeley House and St Mary’s Court (affecting the seven blocks of flats within the area identified in the plan that is shown edged red in Appendix 1) and the subsequent demolition of each block of flats as it becomes vacant;

 

(c)      Resolved to make a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), in accordance with s226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, for the acquisition of the land and third party interests within the area identified in the plan that is shown edged red in Appendix 1 in order to enable the regeneration of the Berkeley House and St Mary’s Court site and the development of ‘The Roof Gardens’ scheme;

   

(d)      Delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing & Wellbeing, the Borough Secretary & Monitoring Officer and the Chief Finance Officer, the authority to effect the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO and to take all necessary steps to give effect to the CPO including the payment of any compensation in relation to the land shown on the plan in Appendix 1 including, but not limited to, the procedural steps described in Paragraph 4.3.10 of this report;

 

(e)     Delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Wellbeing, the Borough Secretary & Monitoring Officer and the Chief Finance Officer the authority to appoint external professional assistance if necessary to meet the requirements of paragraph 4.3.10 of this report;

 

(f)      Considered and took account of the consultation feedback pursuant to Appendix 4 of this report;

 

(g)      Approved the proposed capital scheme budget of £15.9m which will include the scheme costs involved in the acquisition of leasehold properties, development costs i.e. standard construction costs, demolition and asbestos removal, any potential archaeology fees and finally, location construction costs;

 

 

(h)     Delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Wellbeing and the Chief Finance Officer, authority to approve the release of the relevant funds from the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme following the procurement process and outcomes within the financial envelope presented in exempt report Appendix 6; 

 

(i)       Delegated to the Head of Housing & Wellbeing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing & Wellbeing and the Chief Finance Officer, the authority to determine the rent levels and services charges for the new rented homes, based on the outcome of the Council’s application to Homes England for capital funding to support the proposed development of ‘The Roof Gardens’.  The proposal is for “affordable” rents (80% of open market rents) but capped at a level which is no higher than the Local Housing Allowance rate; and

 

(j)       Agreed to accept further reports to future meetings of Cabinet on any issues that may require further consideration and decision by Cabinet.

 

Supporting documents: