Purpose

Background Information
 
The Housing Sub-Committee, at its meeting on 22 June
2017, approved the serving of demolition notices under the Housing
Act 1985 in 2017 to suspend and remove entirely the statutory
'right to buy' option for tenants on the Estate. This action was
taken to control further acquisitions which would subsequently need
to be acquired by the Council as part of the regeneration. This
action was taken to bring some predictability to project viability
and project deliverability.
 
At the time the Initial Demolition Notice was served
in 2017, it was envisaged that the development would commence in
advance of 2023. However, due to the size and complexity of the
regeneration project and the Council’s decision to undertake
extensive engagement with residents of the Estate to shape the
development proposals including a resident’s ballot, the
preparation of the planning application took longer than
anticipated and the application was only submitted in November
2020.
 
The planning application process was thorough and
there were extensive discussions with the GLA. It was therefore two
years before the application was finally determined with planning
permission only being granted in July 2022. Whilst the land
assembly process was being carried out in parallel with the
planning process on a voluntary basis, once planning permission was
granted the Council then had to pursue the Compulsory Purchase
Order process as it had not been possible to acquire all of the
required third party interests.
 
The development of Phase 1 is now underway and
reserved matters applications are being prepared for Phase 2. It is
anticipated that Phases 2-5 will come forward over the next seven
years. This is a reasonable timescale for a strategic and
significant estate regeneration project involving the delivery of
up to 2,170 new homes across five phases.
 
The demolition of the relevant premises will be
required to secure the comprehensive redevelopment of Phases 2-5 of
CRE. Planning permission has been granted for the development. The
further Initial Demolition Notice is required in order to ensure
there are no additional third party interests created across CRE
which would add to the costs of the project and would impact on the
viability of delivering much needed new houses including a
significant number of replacement and additional social rented
dwellings.
 
The current demolition notice expires in July 2024,
requiring an application to the Secretary of State for an
extension. Due to timescales the Council has already made this
request and has received approval to extend the Initial Demolition
Notice for a further seven years. The Decision that needs to be
taken is to serve the revised Notice to tenants currently living on
CRE, informing them of the extension of the suspension of the Right
to Buy.
 

Reason for Urgency

 
The paper was due
to go to the Place Committee scheduled on 20 June 2024. This
meeting has now been cancelled due to the General Election and
rescheduled for 17 July 2024. That gives too little time to
prepare and implement the Notice to avoid a gap in its
validity.

Content

To approve the
serving of the revised (extended) Initial Demolition Notice to
suspend the statutory Right to Buy
option for tenants on Cambridge Road Estate for a further seven
years until 20 July 2031.