Content

9.1

Property Services are in the process of
selling land at Daniel Hill Street, Walkley for Housing. A 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
various comments and objections from residents. Under the
constitution, it is a requirement that these objections are
considered by Finance & Performance Policy Committee.

 

 

9.2

RESOLVED: That the Finance and
Performance Policy Committee;
 

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

 

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR –
7 Members; AGAINST – 2 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 0
Members)
 

9.3

Reasons for
Decision

 

 

9.3.1

·      
The site sits within a residential zone 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 may address most of the
concerns raised.

·      
In addition, Feedback sought from planning on the proposal
states:
‘the site would fail
to meet the definition of open space contained within the NPPF, it
would be difficult to sustain a refusal of its development for
housing, and that subject to the houses having adequate off-street
parking (minimum 1 space per dwelling), then it is not considered
that it would lead to any significant harm to highway safety. These
matters as well as the effect on the Conservation Area would be
fully considered as part of a full planning
application’.

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

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

·      
A delayed decision could result in the developer walking away as
the sale is not legally binding until contracts are exchanged.

 

 

9.4

Alternatives
Considered and Rejected

 

 

9.4.1

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

·      
The site would remain in the Councils 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 the
approx. 260 remaining small sites and thus prevent them from coming
forward as housing sites in the future.

 

9.4.2

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