Decision details

RESOLVED

KEY DECISION

That the Executive:

a)    Approved the amendment of the budget to £2,173,000 for the Former Grange Methodist Church, Stamford Rd, Kettering - Housing Development

b)    Noted that the construction works will then be procured via an open procedure tender process

c)    Delegated authority to the Executive Member for Housing, Communities and Levelling Up in consultation with the Executive Director of Adults, Health Partnerships and Housing to take any decisions necessary to complete the project including decisions to conclude procurement and award contracts

Reasons for Recommendations:

·         To enable the delivery of the housing development.

·         To bring back into use a redundant brownfield site in a residential area, which is currently subject to vandalism and attracts anti-social behaviour.

·         The Avondale Grange ward within which the proposed development is located has been designated as a “left behind” area and in need of additional investment under the Government’s levelling up agenda.

·         To increase the supply of affordable rented housing available in North Northamptonshire, which meets the corporate objective of enabling safe and thriving places.

·         To increase the supply of housing suitable for disabled people, which meets the corporate objective of helping people to live healthier, more active and fulfilled lives in North Northamptonshire.

Alternative Options Considered-

·         Do nothing – this would not deliver any of the objectives set by the Council and would not deliver additional affordable housing.

·         Cease the development and sell the site- not recommended because the site is required by the Council to deliver its existing programme of housing development, increase the supply of affordable housing and housing suitable for people with disabilities and enable spend of Right to Buy Receipts, which would otherwise have to be returned to the Government.

·         Further pause the development and redesign the scheme to achieve lower per unit costs/increase rental income- not recommended because it would not allow the provision of additional housing suitable for disabled people. It would also require the project to be restarted as a new planning application would be required and all spend to date would be abortive cost.