Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: September 18, 2025

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED: a)    Noted the work to date concerning the proposals for the site including the progress of works, and plans including the delivery programme. b)    Notes and approves the Housing Revenue Account Capital Budget and Development Appraisal for the Ecton Brook Affordable Housing Development as outlined in the exempt Appendix A. c)     Delegated authority to the Director of Communities and Opportunities to, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, Chief Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer, approve the appointment of a Principal Contractor to undertake the work required at the former Ecton Brook Care Home site following a compliant procurement process and subject to an appropriate level of Homes England Affordable Homes Programme grant funding being secured. d)    Noted that to enable the delivery of a viable scheme that includes Social Rent properties we must seek to maximise grant funding and reduce costs as much as possible, including by accepting a reduced land value as outlined in Section 6.2. e)    Agreed in principle to accept a reduced land value for the site when appropriating from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account. f)      Delegated authority to the Assistant Director for Assets and Environment to take necessary steps to transfer the land of the former Ecton Brook Care Home site from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account, assuming a reduced land value.   REASONS RESOLVED: 1.     Accepting these recommendations will enable the construction of 18 affordable homes with the maximum viable number of Social Rent properties at the site of the former Ecton Brook Care Home, which will help address the need for new affordable homes and delivers on the objectives of the Council’s Housing Strategy and Affordable Homes Delivery Plan. 2.     The most recent Housing and Economic Needs Assessment (HENA) sets out how acute the need for new affordable housing is, with West Northamptonshire requiring 1,063 new affordable homes each year – whilst recent average delivery is 580 per year. 3.     As set out in theme 1 of the Housing Strategy, WNC is committed to “delivering the homes people need and can afford”, additionally point 9 of the Affordable Homes Delivery Plan is to “accelerate the supply of new Council homes”. 4.     Progressing with Ecton Brook represents a time and cost-effective way to work towards meeting our housing need and delivering on strategic objectives of the council as significant work has been undertaken over the preceding years to bring the scheme to its current state.   ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS: Affordable housing relates to a broad range of different tenure types, primarily social rent, affordable rent, and shared ownership.