Issue - meetings

Bournemouth Development Company LLP (“BDC”) is a joint venture between the Council and Community Solutions for regeneration Bournemouth,  a subsidiary of MUSE Developments Limited (itself a subsidiary of Morgan Sindall Group plc). It was established in 2011 and is currently due to expire in 2031.

In March 2023, Cabinet approved a request to extend the Site Option Execution Date for Winter Gardens to September 2024. This date has passed and a further extension is required in order for BDC to continue working on a new scheme.

A Strategy Day was held on 6 December to review and consider options for moving forward with the Winter Gardens site. Following that meeting, Muse have committed funds to take forward new high-level design and capacity work for the site.  Early indications show potential for a housing-led scheme with circa 500 homes, including a good proportion of affordable homes, along with some street level retail and commercial space.

The purpose of this report is to update Cabinet on progress since the recent BDC Strategy Day, agree the proposed timetable for the new Partnership Business Plan and to update on the priority project, Winter Gardens, including the proposed strategy for bringing forward residential development on the site, which requires approval to extend the Site Option Execution date.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)          Agrees the principle of an extension of the Winter Gardens site "Option Execution Date", with details to be agreed to be delegated to the Chief Operations Officer acting in consultation with the Leader of the Council, or until Cabinet have had the opportunity to review a revised partnership business plan including the site development plan for the revised Winter Gardens scheme. 

(b)           Instructs officers to explore the available funding options such that a funding strategy can be developed for the Winter Gardens project and be put forward at a future Cabinet meeting;

(c)           Notes the timetable for producing a new Partnership Business Plan for BDC and a Cabinet report later this year;

(d)           Notes the interdependency with the current work to review Shareholder Governance and that the composition of the BDC Board is under review.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holders: Leader of the Council

 Housing and Regulatory Services

Reason

To contribute to the Council’s Corporate Strategy, specifically helping to revitalise high streets and regenerate key sites to create new opportunities and to provide good quality homes that are accessible, sustainable and affordable for all.

The emerging Local Plan includes an allocation of 400 new homes in the Bournemouth Arc area. This project offers the potential to make a significant contribution to exceed this target.

The Council has reserved the right for Cabinet to approve Site Development Plans (SDP) and further approvals are necessary to vary terms.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'E' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that Bournemouth Development Company LLP (“BDC”) is a joint venture between the Council and Community Solutions for regeneration Bournemouth, a subsidiary of MUSE Developments Limited (itself a subsidiary of Morgan Sindall Group plc) which was established in 2011 and is currently due to expire in 2031.

Cabinet was informed that in March 2023, Cabinet approved a request to extend the Site Option Execution Date for Winter Gardens to September 2024, and that this date had passed and a further extension is required in order for BDC to continue working on a new scheme.

Cabinet was informed that a Strategy Day was held on 6 December to review and consider options for moving forward with the Winter Gardens site, and that following that meeting, Muse have committed funds to take forward new high-level design and capacity work for the site.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that early indications show potential for a housing-led scheme with circa 500 homes, including a good proportion of affordable homes, along with some street level retail and commercial space.

Cabinet was advised that the purpose of this report was to update Cabinet on progress since the recent BDC Strategy Day, agree the proposed timetable for the new Partnership Business Plan and to update on the priority project, Winter Gardens, including the proposed strategy for bringing forward residential development on the site, which requires approval to extend the Site Option Execution date.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor Bartlett addressed the Cabinet advising that at their meeting the previous evening the Board had debated a number of issues relating to the paper in detail, and that the following recommendation had been agreed: -

1.             That a decision to extend the Winter Gardens site ‘Option Execution Date’ is deferred by Cabinet until the new BDC Partnerships Business Plan has been approved by Cabinet.

(Equal decision, Chair used his casting vote)

Members addressed the Cabinet where the following comments were raised: -

·       The need to invest in social and affordable housing

·       Concern as to whether BDC still offers the council the scope to develop the site

·       The building of housing needs to be balanced with the provision of car parking

The Leader advised that it had been an interesting debate at the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting the previous evening and that there was a lot to consider going forwards including exploring viability as there has been much change over the last 6 years.

In addition, the Leader advised that BDC now have a really strong relationship with Homes England.

Further to this and taking on board the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Board the Leader proposed an amendment to recommendation (a) so that it would read as follows: -

(a)           Agrees the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134

Bournemouth Development Company LLP (“BDC”) is a joint venture between the Council and Community Solutions for regeneration Bournemouth,  a subsidiary of MUSE Developments Limited (itself a subsidiary of Morgan Sindall Group plc). It was established in 2011 and is currently due to expire in 2031.

In March 2023, Cabinet approved a request to extend the Site Option Execution Date for Winter Gardens to September 2024. This date has passed and a further extension is required in order for BDC to continue working on a new scheme.

A Strategy Day was held on 6 December to review and consider options for moving forward with the Winter Gardens site. Following that meeting, Muse have committed funds to take forward new high-level design and capacity work for the site.  Early indications show potential for a housing-led scheme with circa 500 homes, including a good proportion of affordable homes, along with some street level retail and commercial space.

The purpose of this report is to update Cabinet on progress since the recent BDC Strategy Day, agree the proposed timetable for the new Partnership Business Plan and to update on the priority project, Winter Gardens, including the proposed strategy for bringing forward residential development on the site, which requires approval to extend the Site Option Execution date.

The  Leader of the Council presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. Bournemouth Development Company LLP (“BDC”) is a joint venture between the Council and Community Solutions for regeneration Bournemouth, a subsidiary of MUSE Developments Limited (itself a subsidiary of Morgan Sindall Group plc). It was established in 2011 and is currently due to expire in 2031.

In March 2023, Cabinet approved a request to extend the Site Option Execution Date for Winter Gardens to September 2024. This date has passed and a further extension is required in order for BDC to continue working on a new scheme.

A Strategy Day was held on 6 December to review and consider options for moving forward with the Winter Gardens site. Following that meeting, Muse have committed funds to take forward new high-level design and capacity work for the site.  Early indications show potential for a housing-led scheme with circa 500 homes, including a good proportion of affordable homes, along with some street level retail and commercial space. The purpose of the report was to update Cabinet on progress since the recent BDC Strategy Day, to agree the proposed timetable for the new Partnership Business Plan and to update on the priority project, Winter Gardens, including the proposed strategy for bringing forward residential development on the site, which requires approval to extend the Site Option Execution date.

The Winter Gardens site should remain a landmark mixed-use site with car parking and active frontage. The suggestion for the site was for an extensively housing led scheme, and it was suggested by a Board member that this would not be considered as regeneration. The Leader advised that the essential need at present was for housing and that this should be a greater priority than parking provision. Much needed homes could be delivered, and this site would also deliver commercial offerings such as restaurants. In terms of podium parking the issue was viability and this decision would come to full Council for a decision.

The report advised that the development would include a good proportion of affordable homes and clarification on this was sought. The next stage of the process would refine this issue as a pre-planning application was developed. The Leader advised that as much affordable and social housing should be provided as would make the scheme viable.

Concern was raised that the option execution date was proposed to be extended, and it was suggested that the plans should be developed first if the Council was unsure as to whether it wanted this to proceed. The Leader advised that the Council did want this to proceed. In terms of social housing and the funding of the scheme was dependent upon the relationship with homes England. The proposal placed forward would be very important for regeneration in the Town Centre in terms of footfall.

There were a number of risks associated with moving  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116