Purpose

Former youth centre in Lawrence Weston is now
not in use. To reduce temporary accommodation pressures, a proposal
has been worked up with a new partner, Cornerstone Place, to
deliver circa. 14 units of housing on the land, for usage as exempt
accommodation.
The model works by Bristol City Council funding Cornerstone Place,
at risk, to take the site through the planning process. If
approved, Cornerstone Place could purchase the land, arrange
financing for the scheme and deliver the units, with Bristol City
Council providing a rent guarantee and having a nominations
agreement. The post-planning aspects of the proposal would be a key
decision, subject to future committee approval.

Content

Approval of up to £121,910 of capital
feasibility funding, to commission Cornerstone Place to take land
at Lawrence Weston (former youth centre) through the planning
process, with the intention of delivering housing on the site. An
additional £10,880 has been approved for internal resourcing
costs.

Alternative options considered

Council could opt not to progress with scheme,
but there is a need for new housing, and this provides an
opportunity to utilise a now unused site.
The council could choose to deliver the housing itself on the site.
This was rejected as, with the preferred option: the council gain a
capital receipt; the council have access to subsidy-loss free
accommodation, without bearing the costs and risks of delivering
the scheme; the council’s borrowing is not increased; and no
additional capacity to deliver the scheme is required.