Issue - decisions

Appropriation of the Former Hemsworth Primary School site (Blackstock Road, Gleadless Valley, S14 1AA) for Housing Purposes

20/02/2020 - Appropriation of the Former Hemsworth Primary School Site (Blackstock Road) for Housing Purposes*

14.1

The Executive Director, Place, submitted a report seeking approval for the former Hemsworth Primary School site (Blackstock Road, Gleadless Valley, S14 1AA) to be appropriated for the purposes of Part II of the Housing Act 1985 to be used for the provision of extra care housing or other older person housing (such as Older Persons Independent Living),and to request that previous decisions by Cabinet regarding the use and disposal of the site be rescinded.

 

 

14.2

RESOLVED: That:-

 

 

 

(a) the Cabinet decisions of September 2002 and June 2007, in respect of the disposal of the former Hemsworth Primary School site for extra care housing and that the disposal be to the Extra Care Charitable Trust, be rescinded; and

 

 

 

(b) subject to no objections to the open space notice being received, the former Hemsworth Primary School site be appropriated for the purposes of Part II of the Housing Act 1985 for the provision of extra care housing or other older person housing through the Housing Revenue Account Stock Increase Programme.

 

 

14.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

The former Hemsworth Primary School site has remained vacant since 2005 and was recently declared surplus to the requirements of the ‘People’ portfolio. Appropriating the site for the purposes of Part II of the Housing Act 1985 will enable the Council to fulfill its longstanding intention to develop older persons housing on the site as part of the Council’s Stock Increase Programme.

 

 

14.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

 

Three alternatives have been considered:-

 

 

 

(1) ‘Do nothing’. As the site has been left vacant since at least 2005 and is currently a maintenance liability for the Council, ‘doing nothing’ is not considered to be a suitable option.

 

 

 

(2) Develop the site for older persons’ accommodation via market disposal which might attract Registered Providers and/or institutional investors (based on soft market testing).

 

 

(3) Develop the site with non-age-specific general needs housing via market disposal.

In relation to alternative options (2) and (3) - as the Council is now delivering older persons’ developments elsewhere in the city, it is able to make best use of that understanding and expertise to deliver the site for the provision of extra care housing or other older person housing through the Council Housing Stock Increase Programme. If the site remains in Council ownership, the Council will be able to retain greater control over the type of development that best meets the needs of older people in the city. Keeping the asset in Council ownership will deliver a rental income to the Housing Revenue Account over the lifetime of the development.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee