Agenda item

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

Recommendations:-

1.      That approval be given to the transfer to Arches Housing Association of two additional HRA-owned garage sites in the Wickersley ward (Chestnut Close adjacent numbers 7 and 9 and opposite numbers 30 and 32), at the value of £5k per plot, subject to Arches confirming their suitability for residential development.

2.      That approval be given to the removal of the Willow Close site from the scheme as this has been found to be unsuitable for residential development.

3.      That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director of Housing Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to approve amendments to numbers and types of homes if required due to any site constraints or Planning recommendations that arise once work commences.

Further to Minute No. 10 of the meeting of the Cabinet and Commissioners held on 9^th July, 2018, consideration was given to the report which recommended the disposal of four Housing Revenue Account sites in Wickersley to Arches Housing Association, for the delivery of fourteen houses.

The report identified changes to the original development programme, both in respect of the sites to be transferred and the types of homes to be delivered, and, therefore, sought approval for a revised programme and associated site releases.

In the Wickersley Ward, the demand for two bedroom bungalows was high so by changing the unit type from houses to bungalows, the scheme would contribute to helping older people and people with support needs to live independently.

From the four options put forward, Option 4 was recommended for approval in that it removed Willow Close, added two new sites to the proposal and would deliver all units as bungalows instead of houses, but would reduce the  number of units to 10.  However, it turn it would deliver the highest number of new homes and assist in meeting the local housing need for bungalows.

Cabinet Members welcomed the proposals and how some derelict sites were being brought back into use, but sought clarification on the removal of the Willow Close site and sought assurances that some of the disruption experienced by nearby residents with fly tipping litter and anti-social behaviour would be dealt with.

The Cabinet were assured that consultation would take place with Ward Members and residents in and around Willow Close to look how to improve on some of the issues being described.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the transfer to Arches Housing Association of two additional HRA-owned garage sites in the Wickersley Ward (Chestnut Close adjacent numbers 7 and 9 and opposite numbers 30 and 32), at the value of £5k per plot, subject to Arches confirming their suitability for residential development, be approved.

(2)  That the removal of the Willow Close site from the scheme as this has been found to be unsuitable for residential development, be approved.

(3)  That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director of Housing Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to approve amendments to numbers and types of homes if required due to any site constraints or Planning recommendations that arise once work commences.