Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: February 11, 2025

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED: Cabinet; a)    Noted the progress made on the St James Depot site since the acquisition in November 2023. b)    Authorised the Director of Communities and Opportunities to approve the appointment of a principal contractor to undertake the remedial works required on the St James Depot site. c)     Approved the recommended delivery route for a high-quality residential scheme and authorises the Director of Communities and Opportunities, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer, to enter into a Development Agreement and associated documents with the preferred development partner for the St James Depot site.   REASONS RESOLVED: 1.     To allow the St James Depot development site to deliver the objectives for re-development set out in the Full Council report dated 30th November 2023 by way of removing or reducing the abnormal costs associated with re-developing the site. Through undertaking remedial works on the St James Depot site, it will allow for the procurement of a development partner to deliver a residential scheme on the site, regenerating a site which has sat derelict for over a decade contributing to the decline of the town centre. 2.     To ensure the Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) grant conditions are met, particularly in relation to the requirement to be in contract for remedial works as set out in this report and to spend the grant within the award timescales and for the permitted purposes.   ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS: To not approve the ability for the Council to award the contract for the Brownfield Land Release Fund remedial works for the St James Depot site would mean that the Council would not meet the grant stipulation of being in contract for the works by 31 March 2025. This would mean that the Council would run the risk of having to return grant monies to OPE which would impact negatively the relationship with OPE and the reputation of the Council. This would mean that there would be no funding to remedy the constraints on the site to get the site ready for a developer. The delivery strategy for the site would then need to be reviewed and the buildings on site will be left empty for a considerably longer period with a prolonged adverse impact on the street scene and encouraging further anti-social behaviour, creating less interest from potential development partners, and incurring greater costs to achieve a cleared site.