Issue - decisions

Decision Title

Beaumont Grange Strategic Acquisitions

Date of Decision:

6 April 2022

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Paul Walsh - Interim Assistant Director for Housing

(in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Section 151 Officer).

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Cabinet Minute No.131 (2020/21)

“That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Section 151 Officer, to enter into an Affordable Homes Programme grant funding agreement with Homes England, for all eligible sites listed in Appendix 3.”

Brief Description of Decision:

That 14 new homes on the Beaumont Grange development, Treeton, be purchased and brought into the Council’s housing stock.

Reasons for the Decision:

The Beaumont Grange housing development in Treeton is bringing forward 23 affordable homes under ‘Section 106’ planning provisions, of which 14 have been made available to registered providers of social housing. The Council has previously submitted an offer to purchase the homes at a discount from the open market value and this officer decision allows the Council to conclude the purchase and enter into contract. Once ready, the homes will be brought into the Council’s housing stock.

Section 106 planning policy provisions allow for affordable homes to be made available to registered providers of social housing at a discount from the full open market value. Purchasing such homes therefore provides a cost-effective means for the Council to replace existing stock which is being lost through the Right to Buy and thereby to help meet demand from the Housing Register, and to also help meet demand for affordable home ownership products through the provision of shared ownership homes. The Council is paying around 62% of the open market value for these homes.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Not proceeding with the purchase of the new homes was rejected on the basis that this would be a missed opportunity to purchase discounted homes and to increase Council housing stock.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Executive Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

Annual Housing Development Report – 2021/22