Decision details

23.1

The report sought authority to sell Sheffield Councils land interests in property in the vicinity of Prince of Wales Road, Queen Mary Road and Riddings Close to enable redevelopment for a food led retail scheme.

Authority was required to include two vacant properties currently in the Council’s housing stock at no`s 6 and 8 Prince of Wales Road in the sale as they were required to facilitate access to the site.

23.2

RESOLVED: That Co-operative Executive:-

1.    It is recommended that the Chief Property Officer in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance be authorised to negotiate final sale terms and conditional contracts to enable the retail scheme to progress on such land as is required within the lands edged red coloured pink on the attached plan; and

2.    The Director of Legal and Governance be authorised to draft all necessary legal documentation for the relevant sale of the land edged red and coloured pink for retail and the land edged red coloured pink hatched brown to the developer.

23.3

Reasons for Decision

23.3.1

The overall contract with the developer will enable the Council to achieve a capital receipt, bring forward the development of a retail scheme, achieve the redevelopment of an under used former school building and enable the accommodation of a popular boxing club and community facility.

23.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

23.4.1

Do nothing. The former Prince of Wales school buildings are underused but are in part occupied by De Hood Boxing Club. The maintenance and running costs of these dated school buildings are however disproportionately large and over the longer term the continued occupation of the school buildings by the boxing club cannot be sustained without ongoing financial support from SCC.

23.4.2

Maintaining the Boxing Club in its current location would prevent the retail development at the site, result in an opportunity cost of £1.8m and require ongoing running costs of around £20,000pa the cost of which the council will continue to meet.

23.4.3

Retain the club in its existing position but on a regularised basis. SCC could compel the Club to sign up to a lease regularising their current occupation of the buildings, making the club responsible for running costs and ongoing maintenance costs.

23.4.4

In addition the retail development would not come forward and there would be a saving on running and repair costs in the medium term. In the longer term the buildings would fall into disrepair and there would be occasional calls for SCC to step in and provide funding and/ or the buildings would be left vacant and SCC would ultimately be liable for their demolition.

23.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

23.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

23.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Executive Director, Place

23.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee