Purpose

The Council has long been committed to
supporting community-led housing as a way of delivering much needed
new homes, driven by local residents. This report recommends
agreement to a small site in Newham being used for the delivery of
community-led housing by E16 CLT. The site is currently occupied by
derelict garages. Disposal of the site to E16 CLT for the purpose
of delivering community-led housing is dependent upon a number of
conditions being met, including planning permission being granted
and the Council being satisfied of the viability of the scheme.

Decision

Decision
 
For the reasons set
out in the report and its appendices Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree to:
 

i) 
Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Inclusive Economy
and Housing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing
Needs, Homelessness and Private Rented Sector and Director of
Property Services to agree:

 

a) 
That the Land is no longer required for the purpose for which it is
currently held and that it should be appropriated to planning
purposes, to include:

 

· conducting all appropriate steps
necessary to complete the appropriation in satisfaction of all
legal/regulatory requirements; and

· consideration of any objections to the
intended appropriation before a decision to appropriate is made

 

b) 
The final terms of the Agreement for Lease (“AFL”) and
lease;

 

ii) 
Approve the disposal of a 250 year lease in the Land to E16 CLT, as
set out in the report and exempt appendix 1.
 
Alternatives
Considered
 

a) 
Developing the Land ourselves: although the Council has a strategic
programme of small site development (Cabinet report July 2023),
this Land was not identified as one that the Council would benefit
from building out itself.

b) 
Disposal of the land for profit: this option was rejected because
of the potential social value generated by disposing of the land to
the CLT. As set out in 8.1.2, the expected income for the site if
developed with 50% affordable would be 11 £490k, which is
considered by the Council to be of less value than the delivery of
9 new homes which will be affordable to local residents in
perpetuity.

c) 
Do nothing: doing nothing would continue to attract antisocial
behaviour to the Land, as well as failing to make use of a key
Council asset at a time of unprecedented financial pressures and
housing need.