Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director of Property and Housing attached.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

1.    Cabinet noted the resident feedback from the Bent Lane and Balcarres Green consultation exercise and resolved not to develop the land at either location for housing development and that officers continue to work with residents to co-design local priorities for both sites based upon the feedback from the planning for real exercises.

2.    Cabinet approved officers to proceed with a full options appraisal for the delivery of affordable/mixed use development at the McKenzie Arms site to develop a full business case and investment options for consideration by Cabinet at a future meeting.

3.    Cabinet tasked officers to look at the most effective way to protect land at Bent Lane and Balcarres Green from future housing development.

The Cabinet Member (Finance, Property and Assets), Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, presented a report of the Assistant Director of Property and Housing that updated on the outcome of the planning for real exercise undertaken with residents from Bent Lane and Balcarres Green. The report also provided an update on the One Public Estate funding application to support the release of public sector land for housing development.

At the Cabinet meeting on 20 March 2019, it was recommended that a clear work programme be developed with residents of Bent Lane and Balcarres Green. Approval was also given for a full options appraisal to be undertaken on the former McKenzie Arms for the delivery of an affordable/mixed use development to be undertaken on the site alongside a full business plan and investment opportunities.

Councillor Tomlinson reported that it had been part of the Labour Group’s Election manifesto to stop development of housing on this land and that he was now delighted to be able to keep this promise and requested officers to look at ways of protecting this land against any future housing development proposals.

The Cabinet Member (Environment), Councillor Susan Jones expressed thanks on behalf of the residents of Bent Lane and Balcarres Green for the reversal of the original decision and welcomed their continued involvement on how plans should be progressed at the two sites. The Leader of the Council also commented that £50k had been allocated for enhancements at each site.

As there was a requirement for the One Public Estate funding to be committed by the end of January 2020, the Cabinet considered it prudent to carry out a full options appraisal of the McKenzie Arms site and bring back investment options that could be consulted upon by residents.

It was proposed by Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, seconded by Councillor Paul Foster, and

Decision made (Unanimously):

1.    Cabinet noted the resident feedback from the Bent Lane and Balcarres Green consultation exercise and resolved not to develop the land at either location for housing development and that officers continue to work with residents to co-design local priorities for both sites based upon the feedback from the planning for real exercises.

2.    Cabinet approved officers to proceed with a full options appraisal for the delivery of affordable/mixed use development at the McKenzie Arms site to develop a full business case and investment options for consideration by Cabinet at a future meeting.

3.    Cabinet tasked officers to look at the most effective way to protect land at Bent Lane and Balcarres Green from future housing development.

Reason(s) for the decision:

An extensive programme of consultation has been undertaken with residents involving formal consultation events, planning for real exercises and the opportunity for residents to feedback their views through letter, phone and email.

Feedback in relation to the use of land at Balcarres Green and Bent Lane would appear to suggest investment in leisure or community use is far more acceptable/appropriate rather than developing houses on the sites.

There has been a high level of engagement and involvement from residents at the planning for real events and the green links consultation events and recommendations would appear to reflect residents views.

The Council has a small number of sites that have been approved for One Public Estate Funding to release the land for housing development. It is important that the funding is committed by the end of January 2020 or the Council will lose the funding. A decision is therefore required regarding whether or not the Council wishes to proceed with the McKenzie Arms site.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The Council could choose to develop the land at Balcarres Green and Bent Lane for housing but this would be contrary to the expressed wishes of residents as stated in the planning for real exercise.

The Council could choose not to proceed with a full options appraisal and business case for the McKenzie Arms site however the consultation feedback suggests there is little opposition to using the site for development (only one objection was received as part of the consultation exercise). Feedback from the My Neighbourhood Chair and Vice Chair for Bamber Bridge has indicated that they would like to see something done with the site.

The site could potentially provide an access route into the Wesley Mill development. However, the developers have chosen an alternative access road into the scheme and given this, the requirement to purchase the school playing field land to give access from Station Road and the potential triggering of an overage agreement it is not considered that this option would provide for the optimum use of the site.