Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Approves development of the Denman Road site, to build an estimated 18 new Council homes, with the final number subject to planning permission and further design work.

2. Delegates authority to the Interim Assistant Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to optimise design of the sites according to strategic need, site constraints, and any requirements resulting from both stakeholder feedback and the planning application process.

Consideration was given to the report which sought approval to develop the Council-owned Denman Road site in Wath. It was projected that the site would deliver an estimated 18 new Council homes. Denman Road would be delivered as part of the ‘Wath Small Sites’ development, alongside Bushfield Road and Valley Drive. All three sites had previously been presented to and approved by Cabinet for inclusion as part of the Council’s Housing Delivery Programme. Appendix 1 to the report showed the location of the ‘Wath Small Sites’, with the specific site requiring Cabinet approval coloured red, whilst the other two sites are outlined red.

Denman Road was a Council-owned land asset held in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). The site was first approved for development by Cabinet in January 2023 as part of the ‘Housing Development Programme Report –2023/24’. The most recent version of the Programme was approved by Cabinet in February 2025.

The site was allocated for residential housing in the Local Plan and had previously housed blocks of flats that were demolished as part of clearances under the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder. All demolition works were completed by 2009. An indicative capacity layout had been produced for 18 dwellings. This was only an estimate and could reduce or increase, dependant on the final scheme design and planning decision. The site was currently vacant and attracted fly tipping.

Procurement activity for the construction phase was progressing in parallel with the report, alongside the contractor working through designs. A planning

application had been submitted on 2 April 2025 to ensure the programme

would not be delayed. This would enable timely delivery should the proposals in the report be approved. Subject to Cabinet approval, the aim was to secure

planning permission by Autumn 2025. The latest forecast for construction activity was to start on site by Autumn 2025, with completion targeted for the new homes by the end of 2026. The wider Wath Small Sites project was due for final completion by December 2026.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approve development of the Denman Road site, to build an estimated 18 new Council homes, with the final number subject to planning permission and further design work.

2.    Delegate authority to the Interim Assistant Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to optimise design of the sites according to strategic need, site constraints, and any requirements resulting from both stakeholder feedback and the planning application process.