Purpose

The Council has intervened at Bath Western Riverside via the acquisition of former gasholder operational land and has subsequently delivered infrastructure works to unlock the brownfield site. By drawing down Homes England Housing Infrastructure funding, the council has the opportunity to control the quality, pace and delivery of housing.

Considerable progress has been made on the site and the gas rationalisation works are expected to be completed in July 2023. Following the practical completion of the Gas Rationalisation works, there are several legal actions which are triggered pursuant to the Land Swap Agreement (Stage 1) dated 27th January 2022. This includes a requirement on the Council to exercise the Option Agreement dated 29th March 2018 to acquire the remaining land within title ST199155 from Wales and West Utilities. The cost to exercise the Option is £10.00.

Decision E3168 delegated authority to the Director for Economy and Growth (now Regeneration and Housing) the power to appropriate for planning purposes the Site (pursuant to section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972) and to exercise the power, if required, under section 203 of the Housing Planning Act 2016 (section 203) to facilitate the carrying out of the development of the Site

Decision

In accordance with the delegations set out within Decision E3168, the Director of Regeneration and Housing (Economy and Growth) progresses to exercise the Option Agreement dated 29th March 2018 to acquire the remaining land within title ST199155 from Wales and West Utilities for a cost of £10.00.

Alternative options considered

1. Not exercise the Option Agreement.
The Council is legally obliged to exercise the Options Agreement. If the council chose not to exercise the agreement it would be in breach of contract.