Content

8.1

Property Services are in the
process of selling a parcel of land at Junction Road, Woodhouse, in
a joint sale along with a private landowner for housing. The sale
has been agreed subject to contract and planning. Before contracts
can be exchanged, the publication of public open space notices must
be fulfilled as a legal requirement. These publications have
generated three written comments / objections from two local residents. Under the constitution, it is a
requirement that these objections are considered by Finance &
Performance Policy Committee.
.

 

 

8.2

RESOLVED
UNANIMOUSLY: That the Finance and
Performance Policy Committee:
 

·      
Grants approval to proceed to the next stage of the
disposal process.
 

 

 

8.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

8.3.1

·      
The site sits within a residential area and is
supported for housing delivery by Planning.

·      
Property Services consider the comments received to
be matters which would be given due consideration by the Planning
Authority as part of the planning process.

·      
Once detailed planning applications are submitted,
the public will have a further opportunity to review, comment and
object, having sight of the detailed information and statements
prepared by the developers or their consultants which should
address some of the concerns raised.

·      
In addition, the proposed purchaser will conduct
their own public consultation and propose to do this by way of a
community leaflet and a website to show the site layout plan once
finalised.

·      
A decision to proceed would help the Council meet
its objectives as set out in The Councils Plan and detailed in
section 3 below.

·      
The draft proposal will provide approximately 42
affordable homes.

·      
Once complete, this sale will result in a capital
receipt and Council Tax revenue for the Council.

·      
A late decision could result in either developer
walking away as neither sale is legally binding until contracts are
exchanged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

8.4.1

Alternative Option 1: Withdraw from the
sale(s) and do nothing
 
This is not considered appropriate
because:

·      
The site would remain in the Council’s ownership and an
on-going maintenance liability would remain with the authority.
 

·      
The objections raised are issues that will be considered during the
planning process, where the public can formally scrutinise and
comment upon the detail of the proposed schemes.

·      
Planning considers the merits of the allocation of the sites for
open space purposes when allocating land for housing. The severe
shortage of housing land in the city is a known issue.

·      
By doing nothing, the Council may establish a precedent for future
land disposals and thus prevent them from coming forward as housing
sites in the future.

 

 

8.4.2

Alternative Option 2:
 
There are no known alternatives, however there
may be unexplored options which Property Services have not
considered.