Agenda item

Appropriation of the former Bole Hill View Older Persons Residential Home for Housing Purposes

Report of Executive Director, Operational Services

Decision:

12.1

This report sought approval for the former Bole Hill View Older Persons’ Residential Home site (Eastfield Road, Crookes, Sheffield, S10 1QL) to be appropriated1 for the purposes of Part II of the Housing Act 1985. The vacant former Older Persons’ Residential Home, which has been disused for several years, currently occupies part of the site. The site and building have been declared surplus to requirements in terms of their original/ previous use. The site has been identified as suitable for the delivery of new affordable homes as part of the Council’s Stock Increase Programme. The site needs to be formally appropriated for ‘housing purposes’ to enable work to progress (e.g. disconnection of utilities, demolition of existing structures, completion of ground investigation surveys) on the delivery of new affordable Council homes.

 

 

12.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Finance Sub-Policy Committee:-

 

1.     Approve that the former Bole Hill View Older Persons’ Residential Home site is appropriated for the purposes of Part II of the Housing Act 1985

 

 

 

 

 

12.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

12.3.1

In Planning terms, the preferred use for the site is C2 (residential institutions) and C3 (housing).

 

 

12.3.2

The site is in the Urban West Housing Market Area. This is the area of the City with the largest shortfall of affordable homes, which includes demand for 1-bed apartments which this project will ultimately deliver (subject to further detailed design work, the outcome of a Planning Application and Council approval via the Capital Approval process).

 

 

12.3.3

The site is in an area with limited surplus Council-owned land suitable for housing development and where competition for and cost of sites on the open market is high.

12.3.4

Provides an opportunity to regenerate a Council-owned brownfield site (removing liabilities associated with a vacant building/ disused site).

12.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

12.4.1

‘Do nothing’: The site was declared surplus in 2013. It has been disused for several years, with part of the site is occupied by a former older persons’ unit. The site remains a maintenance liability for the Council and is an underutilised brownfield site in Council ownership. ‘Do nothing’ is not considered a suitable long-term option.

12.4.2

Disposal of the site and subsequent marketing for a commercial use: Marketing the site for commercial use is also likely to generate a land receipt for the Council which could be re-invested in services. However, whilst other uses may be acceptable, in Planning terms, the preferred use for the site is C2 (residential institutions) and C3 (housing). Given the location of the site in an established residential area, with good access to public transport and local services – a residential use is preferred.

12.4.3

Disposal of the site and subsequent marketing for a residential use: Marketing the site for residential use is also likely to generate a land receipt for the Council which could be re-invested in services. Given the need for affordable housing in this area of the City, coupled with limited surplus land in Council ownership suitable for housing development to meet this need, the preference is to secure the site for the delivery of affordable Council homes as part of the Stock Increase Programme.

 

Whilst market disposal of the site for residential use cannot be ruled out in its entirety (if a Council-led scheme is considered unviable) it is not the preferred option for this site.

 

Minutes:

11.1

The Housing Growth Service Manager presented the report which sought approval for the former Bole Hill View Older Persons’ Residential Home site (Eastfield Road, Crookes, Sheffield, S10 1QL) to be appropriated1 for the purposes of Part II of the Housing Act 1985. The vacant former Older Persons’ Residential Home, which has been disused for several years, currently occupies part of the site. The site and building have been declared surplus to requirements in terms of their original/ previous use. The site has been identified as suitable for the delivery of new affordable homes as part of the Council’s Stock Increase Programme. The site needs to be formally appropriated for ‘housing purposes’ to enable work to progress (e.g. disconnection of utilities, demolition of existing structures, completion of ground investigation surveys) on the delivery of new affordable Council homes.

 

 

11.2

Members raised questions and gave comments and responses were given surrounding the Stock Increase Programme, re-purposing, demand for affordable housing, risk management and appropriation of the site. It was agreed that the Housing Growth Service manager would send specifications onto the Committee and also provide details on costings to maintain the site since 2013. Responses were also given on consideration of different methods to heat the building and use of external funding for environmental upgrades.

 

 

11.3

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Finance Sub-Policy Committee:-

 

1.    Approve that the former Bole Hill View Older Persons’ Residential Home site is appropriated for the purposes of Part II of the Housing Act 1985

 

11.4

Reasons for Decision

 

 

11.4.1

In Planning terms, the preferred use for the site is C2 (residential institutions) and C3 (housing).

 

 

11.4.2

The site is in the Urban West Housing Market Area. This is the area of the City with the largest shortfall of affordable homes, which includes demand for 1-bed apartments which this project will ultimately deliver (subject to further detailed design work, the outcome of a Planning Application and Council approval via the Capital Approval process).

 

 

11.4.3

The site is in an area with limited surplus Council-owned land suitable for housing development and where competition for and cost of sites on the open market is high.

 

 

11.4.4

Provides an opportunity to regenerate a Council-owned brownfield site (removing liabilities associated with a vacant building/ disused site).

 

 

11.5

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

11.5.1

‘Do nothing’: The site was declared surplus in 2013. It has been disused for several years, with part of the site is occupied by a former older persons’ unit. The site remains a maintenance liability for the Council and is an underutilised brownfield site in Council ownership. ‘Do nothing’ is not considered a suitable long-term option.

 

 

11.5.2

Disposal of the site and subsequent marketing for a commercial use: Marketing the site for commercial use is also likely to generate a land receipt for the Council which could be re-invested in services. However, whilst other uses may be acceptable, in Planning terms, the preferred use for the site is C2 (residential institutions) and C3 (housing). Given the location of the site in an established residential area, with good access to public transport and local services – a residential use is preferred.

 

 

11.5.3

Disposal of the site and subsequent marketing for a residential use: Marketing the site for residential use is also likely to generate a land receipt for the Council which could be re-invested in services. Given the need for affordable housing in this area of the City, coupled with limited surplus land in Council ownership suitable for housing development to meet this need, the preference is to secure the site for the delivery of affordable Council homes as part of the Stock Increase Programme.

 

Whilst market disposal of the site for residential use cannot be ruled out in its entirety (if a Council-led scheme is considered unviable) it is not the preferred option for this site.

 

Supporting documents: