Purpose

Horseshoes Lane, Weston Colville is a plot of land
benefitting from Outline Planning consent to erect a single
detached dwelling.

 

GCSP granted outline planning with all matters
reserved for the development on 25 June 2021 Ref:
20/02593/OUT.

 

On 14 November 2022 the Cabinet Decision deemed this
plot of land as unsuitable for Council-owned new build as a
stand alone plot and agreed to seek
market valuation and sell without self-build restrictions. The
existing garage on the site had already been demolished.

 

On 18th May 2023, Cheffins were dual
instructed:

To provide a RICS Valuation which was received on 18
July 2023 at £125,000;

Following the Valuation, to market the plot of land
sale at this value being the minimum bid, in accordance with the
requirement placed on Local Authorities to adhere to S.123 of the
Local Government Act 1972, which seeks to ensure that public assets
i.e. residential building plots, are
disposed of at ‘best price’ (market value) to safeguard
the tax payers’ interests and prevent any possible Judicial
Challenge.

 

It was marketed across multiple platforms including
to the existing Self Build Register and to the general public on 29 August 2023, which resulted in
the second highest bidder being successful making a cash offer of
£153,784 exceeding the minimum bid of
£125,000:

 

1)   
Self builder- cash offer, proof of funds seen for offer of
£153,784 with a Passivhaus
design to complete Q4 2023.

 
Cheffins Recommendation:
We would advise that due to the speed in which the
transaction could complete that the strongest offer here is the
second highest bidder at £153,784.

 

This recommendation by Cheffins was agreed by
SCDC’s Monitoring Officer:
Having considered the info provided, I have no
objection to accepting the second highest offer for Weston Colville
on the basis that it is considered, in the round, to be the
‘best value’ offer, judged on economy, efficiency and
effectiveness required to complete the transaction.

 
Upon
approval of this Decision Notice, Cheffins will be instructed to
inform the successful bidder and start the disposal
process.
 

Content

Approval granted for the sale of HRA owned land at
Horseshoes Lane, Weston Colville with Outline planning consent Ref:
20/02593 dwelling for the best value price of
£153,784