Decision details

This report seeks agreement for the disposal of a surplus asset to Dearnside Fabrications, the current Tenant for continued use of storage of their fabricated balconies. Property Services have agreed a competitive sale price and require this to be progressed with Legal Services to complete the sale and disposing of the surplus asset.

That the Executive Member for Finance and Resources:

1.    approves the sale of the Land at Old Woodchip Works, Kettlebridge Road, in line with the report; and

2.    that the Chief Property Officer in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance prepare all necessary legal documentation in order to sell the land.

1.    The preferred option is to progress with the proposed method of disposal, whilst ensuring it also delivers the most appropriate outcomes for SCC both in terms of capital receipt and also mitigating current maintenance costs.

2.    The preferred option also supports a local business to grow and strengthen their occupation within Sheffield whilst helping to maintain and grow jobs within the City.

The alternative option would be to do nothing and allow the current arrangement to expire. This would mean that SCC are still liable for additional maintenance costs and could be at risk of losing the current Tenant as they have indicated that they will not stay beyond their term and would exercise their next break option because they are looking to acquire a site.

Given that a competitive sale price has been agreed with the current Tenant, marketing of the site was not required as the Tenant falls within the category of a special purchaser under the Council’s Disposal Policy.

Consideration was also given to alternative uses for the benefit of SCC such as housing however were discounted due to location and adjacent occupiers, which include a variety of manufacturing and warehouse occupiers such as Macro Wholesale Cash and Carry, Pimoroni, The Environment Agency and Jack Willis.

The site sits within CS5 of the Core Strategy, which defines this as Locations for Manufacturing, Distribution/Warehousing and other Non-office Businesses. Therefore, housing is not suitable.

Based on the current occupation of the existing business remaining within Sheffield, the approach of a disposal to the current Tenant was considered the preferred option as this meant they would retain their presence within Sheffield as they had considered relocating outside of the City due to a lack of alternative sites for them to acquire for their needs.