Decision details

Land at Spider Park, Sevenfields Lane

Decision Maker: Co-operative Executive

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Purpose:

At its meeting on 8 May 2013 Cabinet resolved that, subject to the outcome of public consultation and the provision of replacement open space, the Property be declared surplus to the requirements of the City Council. By the 2013 Report Cabinet were advised that the Property was intended for disposal to a developer for the purposes of residential development on the basis that part of the capital receipt would be used to fund a replacement play area. Following a period of marketing a preferred developer was identified, who has undertaken considerable due diligence and has now confirmed that it would only be able to proceed on the basis that the Additional Land is also included in the sale.

The revised proposal is to incorporate the Additional Land comprising 0.13Ha (0.34 Acres) which will predominantly accommodate an extension to Sevenfields Lane and the provision of a pedestrian route through the site. Additional works by the preferred developer will be required to improve the Council's retained adjoining greenspace to compensate for the loss of the Additional Land.

Decision:

14.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report in relation to Land at Spider Park, Sevenfields Lane.

 

 

14.2

RESOLVED: That:-

 

 

 

(a)

the Additional Land be declared surplus to the requirements of the City Council;

 

 

 

 

(b)

subject to advertising the proposed disposal of the Property and the Additional Land and upon no public objections being upheld that the Property be sold to the preferred developer for the purposes of residential development;

 

 

 

 

(c)

the Chief Property Officer be authorised to agree final terms for the disposal of the Property and the Additional Land, including the variation of any boundaries as required, and to instruct the Director of Legal and Governance to complete the necessary legal documentation; and

 

 

 

 

(d)

Cabinet notes that the Director of Culture & Environment will bring forward, as part of the monthly budget monitoring report, a capital approval submission to deliver the enhanced play area at section 2 of the report.  The sum be allocated to the Corporate Resource Pool and be available for reinvestment to enhance the play facilities in the area.

 

 

 

14.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

14.3.1

Release of the additional land is required to enable the Council to benefit from a capital receipt which is sufficient to secure sufficient funds for the installation of new play equipment and associated landscaping on the site of the former Wisewood Secondary School to the scale and quality indicated by the design annexed to the 2013 Report at Appendix E of the report.

 

 

14.3.2

The development of housing on the subject site will provide natural surveillance over the remaining open space and make the thoroughfare between Dial House Road and Sevenfields Lane safer to users.

 

 

14.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

14.4.1

The Council could decline the request for additional space although this is likely to result in the preferred developer withdrawing its offer for the land. This would mean that the Council would have to re-market the site with no guarantee that an alternative developer would come forwards and with the resultant delays to the relocation of the external play area.

 

 

14.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

 

None

 

 

14.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

 

None

 

 

14.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

 

 

Laraine Manley, Executive Director, Place

 

 

14.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing

 

Report author: Ben Colver

Publication date: 17/03/2017

Date of decision: 15/03/2017

Decided at meeting: 15/03/2017 - Co-operative Executive

Effective from: 24/03/2017

Accompanying Documents: