Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

1. That Cabinet approve the acquisition of 3-7 Corporation Street on terms to be agreed and approve the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) under section 226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for the acquisition of land and rights within the area edged red on the plan in Appendix 1 for the purposes of facilitating development, redevelopment, and improvement of the Order Land.

2. That Cabinet authorises the Assistant Director of Regeneration, Planning and Transport, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy and the Head of Legal Services, to affect the making, confirmation, and implementation of the CPO and to take all necessary steps to give effect to the CPO in respect of the Order Land including, but not limited to, the procedural steps in section 3.8 of this report.

Consideration was given to the report which sought approval for a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the acquisition of Nos. 3-7 Corporation Street, Rotherham (the Order Land), comprising 2 derelict, fire damaged buildings, formerly a nightclub/bar and a restaurant. The present owners had proven to be unwilling or unable to bring forward the Order Land’s redevelopment and negotiations to acquire by agreement had been unsuccessful. The making of a Compulsory Purchase Order was considered to be the only realistic alternative to bring the site into beneficial economic use.

It was noted that the property had been an eyesore for a long period, however, the Council had needed to wait for the right opportunity to progress discussions.  Negotiations with the owners would continue in order to attempt to resolve this without the need for use of a compulsory purchase order.

It was clarified that there had bene a long period where negotiations had been unable to progress due to the pandemic.

Resolved:

1.    That Cabinet approved the acquisition of Nos. 3-7 Corporation Street on terms to be agreed and approve the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) under Section 226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for the acquisition of land and rights within the area edged red on the plan in Appendix 1 for the purposes of facilitating development, redevelopment, and improvement of the Order Land.

2.    That Cabinet authorise the Assistant Director of Regeneration, Planning and Transport, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy and the Head of Legal Services, to affect the making, confirmation, and implementation of the CPO and to take all necessary steps to give effect to the CPO in respect of the Order Land including, but not limited to, the procedural steps in section 3.8 of this report.