Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet authorise the acquisition of the Freehold and Leasehold interests in the land and properties shown edged red for identification purposes only on the plans at Appendix 1.

2.    That the Assistant Director for Planning, Regeneration and Transport be authorised to negotiate the acquisition by agreement of the property interests at Appendix 1, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, and the Assistant Director of Legal Services be authorised to complete the necessary transactions.

3.    That Cabinet grant a Resolution in Principle to investigate the use of Compulsory Purchase Order powers. In the event that terms cannot be agreed in relation to all or any of the property interests, or cannot be agreed within the prescribed timeframe, a further report may be submitted to Cabinet seeking a formal resolution to acquire those property interests through the exercise of the Council’s Compulsory Purchase Powers.

Consideration was given to the report which outlined the necessary approvals to enable the negotiation and subsequent acquisition by private treaty agreement of all third-party land and property rights to deliver the Regeneration Programme. The Council had secured over £70m from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities through the Town Deal and Levelling Up Fund. This was in addition to the £12.6m from the Future High Streets Fund. The funding would allow the Council to embark on its most significant regeneration opportunity for many years and bring benefits to the entire Borough. Specific areas referenced in the report included the Riverside Residential Quarter, the Leisure and Cultural Quarter, Mainline Station and Eastwood.

The report also addressed the need for public sector intervention to acquire land and property owned by the private sector which was required for the regeneration programme. The sites in question were set out in exempt Appendix 1. Whilst it was the preferred option that the sites be acquired by agreement with the private land owners, it was vital that the Council be prepared to acquire the land via Compulsory Purchase Order powers (CPO) if need be. If a CPO was required, a further report would be brought back to Cabinet.

Consultation with affected landowners had taken place where appropriate and in most cases the first stages of negotiations had begun. Specific consultation on project proposals would take place as schemes moved forward. A further report would be brought back to Cabinet at a later date in 2022 on the subject of a development partner for the town centre residential sites.

At the meeting it was reported that the Regeneration Programme would help deliver economic and social benefits to the Borough both in residential and commercial settings. It would also help improve connectivity. Approval of the recommendations would allow the Council to move at pace to take full advantage of the funding opportunities and deliver its longstanding aims for the entire Borough.

Resolved:-

1.    That Cabinet authorise the acquisition of the Freehold and Leasehold interests in the land and properties shown edged red for identification purposes only on the plans at Appendix 1.

2.    That the Assistant Director for Planning, Regeneration and Transport be authorised to negotiate the acquisition by agreement of the property interests at Appendix 1, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, and the Assistant Director of Legal Services be authorised to complete the necessary transactions.

3.    That Cabinet grant a Resolution in Principle to investigate the use of Compulsory Purchase Order powers. In the event that terms cannot be agreed in relation to all or any of the property interests, or cannot be agreed within the prescribed timeframe, a further report may be submitted to Cabinet seeking a formal resolution to acquire those property interests through the exercise of the Council’s Compulsory Purchase Powers.