Decision details

Approval is being sought for the release of a further £712,000 of revenue funding to complete the HIF Forward Fund Business Case Production and the Gateway 2 submission requirements.

The Cabinet Member for Transport and Development:-

(i) approves the release of a further £712,000 of Revenue funding to complete Stages 2 & 3 of the HIF FF Business Case and SCC Outline Business Case production set out in the report;

(ii) approves the highway and flood works feasibility being carried out by Arup as a sub-contractor of Turner & Townsend in accordance with the existing Capital Delivery Partner contract; and

(iii) approves the highways surveys being carried out by Amey in accordance with Schedule 7 of the existing Highways PFI contract.

Without the HIF funding, it is estimated that significantly less units will be unlocked by 2025 compared to approximately 4,000 units enabled via HIF by 2025.

The HIF Funding will enable project completion and consequently the following:

• Give strategic coherence to a collection of brownfield sites, that will give the market confidence to invest in the construction and purchase of new homes
• Viable Council housing development in the Housing Zone
• Disposal of remediated land to SME housing developers
• Encouragement of further utilities installations and upgrades due to increased residential customer base.
• New and existing residents to access amenities, leisure, healthcare and education through better transport links.

The alternative option is a ‘Do Minimum’ option as follows:

• Road, public transport, flood, drainage and public realm investment takes place at the scale and to the timetable enabled by the market.
• Site acquisition and land remediation is dependent on existing internal council funds limited to S106 and Capital Receipts which are insufficient to meet demands for the foreseeable future. 

This would mean that no sites were enabled by the Council. The limited funds would only facilitate investment with private landowners on a limited number of sites to off-set the abnormal costs of development and/or to enhance the quality of outputs.

Without the HIF funding, it is estimated that significantly less units will be unlocked by 2025 compared to approximately 4,000 units enabled via HIF by 2025.