Issue - meetings

Bournemouth Development Company (BDC) is a joint venture between Muse and BCP Council, established to unlock housing supply and attract private sector investment into the conurbation. Regeneration of Bournemouth Town Centre is a key priority to revitalise the retail and housing offer for residents and reimagine underutilised sites. The Winter Gardens site has been identified, for many years, as a priority regeneration project to deliver corporate strategic objectives.

This report seeks approval for the new BDC Partnership Business Plan which is required to set out the agreed priorities and confirm how sites will be taken forward through the Bournemouth Development Company. This will confirm the extension to the Site Option Execution Date for Winter Gardens to September 2028, which was approved in principle by Cabinet in March, subject to the production of a new Partnership Business Plan.

The paper sets out the next steps for the Winter Gardens project to deliver circa 500 homes through the redevelopment of the existing surface car park and acquired land.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)          Cabinet approves the BDC Partnership Business Plan for 2025 – 2030.

(b)           Cabinet confirms the extension of the Site Option Execution Date to September 2028, allowing Muse as the Private Sector Partner in the BDC to fund the first stage of work on the new Winter Gardens scheme, resulting in a new Site Development Plan. 

(c)           Cabinet approves proceeding on the understanding that public parking will not be included in a new scheme design.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

Reasons

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 draft 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 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 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that Bournemouth Development Company (BDC) is a joint venture between Muse and BCP Council, established to unlock housing supply and attract private sector investment into the conurbation.

Further to this Cabinet was informed that the regeneration of Bournemouth Town Centre is a key priority to revitalise the retail and housing offer for residents and reimagine underutilised sites, and that the Winter Gardens site had been identified, for many years, as a priority regeneration project to deliver corporate strategic objectives.

Cabinet was informed that this report sought approval for the new BDC Partnership Business Plan which is required to set out the agreed priorities and confirm how sites will be taken forward through the Bournemouth Development Company, and that this will confirm the extension to the Site Option Execution Date for Winter Gardens to September 2028, which was approved in principle by Cabinet in March, subject to the production of a new Partnership Business Plan.

In relation to this Cabinet was further advised that the paper sets out the next steps for the Winter Gardens project to deliver circa 500 homes through the redevelopment of the existing surface car park and acquired land.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor Kate Salmon addressed the Cabinet advising that the Board at their recent meeting had thoroughly debated this item in detail and agreed the following recommendations that: -

1.   The Overview and Scrutiny Board supported the following recommendations to Cabinet:

(a)   Cabinet approves the BDC Partnership Business Plan for 2025 – 2030.

(b)   Cabinet confirms the extension of the Site Option Execution Date to September 2028, allowing Muse as the Private Sector Partner in the BDC to fund the first stage of work on the new Winter Gardens scheme, resulting in a new Site Development Plan.

(c)   Cabinet approves proceeding on the understanding that public parking will not be included in a new scheme design.

2.             The Overview and Scrutiny Board would welcome the development of the Town Centre Vision for Bournemouth and requested to scrutinise the regeneration visions for the 3 Towns in the BCP Area as these are redeveloped.

The Leader thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Board for their recommendations and support of the report.

Councillor Stephen Bartlett addressed the Cabinet providing background in relation to the site and urging Cabinet to not agree to the extension but to take stock and analyse whether further consideration should be given allowing the market to take the risk. In relation to this Councillor Bartlett requested the decision, whilst not required to, be taken to Council.

Councillor Patrick Canavan addressed Cabinet and expressed his support for taking the item to Council.

Cabinet spoke in support of the report highlighting the need to deliver the site and housing.

The Leader informed that there was no  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18

Bournemouth Development Company (BDC) is a joint venture between Muse and BCP Council, established to unlock housing supply and attract private sector investment into the conurbation. Regeneration of Bournemouth Town Centre is a key priority to revitalise the retail and housing offer for residents and reimagine underutilised sites. The Winter Gardens site has been identified, for many years, as a priority regeneration project to deliver corporate strategic objectives.

This report seeks approval for the new BDC Partnership Business Plan which is required to set out the agreed priorities and confirm how sites will be taken forward through the Bournemouth Development Company. This will confirm the extension to the Site Option Execution Date for Winter Gardens to September 2028, which was approved in principle by Cabinet in March, subject to the production of a new Partnership Business Plan.

The paper sets out the next steps for the Winter Gardens project to deliver circa 500 homes through the redevelopment of the existing surface car park and acquired land.

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 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The Board was advised that Bournemouth Development Company (BDC) was a joint venture between Muse and BCP Council, established to unlock housing supply and attract private sector investment into the conurbation. It was explained that regeneration of Bournemouth Town Centre was a key priority to revitalise the retail and housing offer for residents and reimagine underutilised sites. The Winter Gardens site has been identified, for many years, as a priority regeneration project to deliver corporate strategic objectives,

This report seeks approval for the new BDC Partnership Business Plan which is required to set out the agreed priorities and confirm how sites will be taken forward through the Bournemouth Development Company. This will confirm the extension to the Site Option Execution Date for Winter Gardens to September 2028, which was approved in principle by Cabinet in March, subject to the production of a new Partnership Business Plan.

The paper sets out the next steps for the Winter Gardens project to deliver circa 500 homes through the redevelopment of the existing surface car park and acquired land. In the discussion of this item a number of issues were raised including:

·      Financial Risk and Implications – It was clarified that no immediate financial outlay would be required from the Council as a result of the proposed extension. However, it was acknowledged that if the revised scheme were not to proceed, historical costs incurred by the BDC could become crystallised as liabilities, thereby reducing the Council’s share of any future profits from the partnership. The importance of monitoring this risk was emphasised.

·      Governance and Oversight of BDC – Concerns were raised by Members regarding the level of transparency and Member engagement in the governance of BDC. It was noted that the BDC operates as a long-standing joint venture between the Council and Muse Developments, with oversight provided through a formal board structure. The need for improved Member understanding of the partnership’s operations and decision-making processes was highlighted.

·      Strategic Importance of the Winter Gardens Site – The site was described as a key opportunity for housing-led regeneration in Bournemouth town centre. It was stated that the revised development approach would prioritise the delivery of affordable and accessible housing. The removal of a previously proposed public car park from the scheme was said to have improved the financial viability of the project.

·      Homes England Funding – It was confirmed that discussions with Homes England were ongoing, and that a new funding programme was expected to be announced in the near future. The timing of the revised SDP was said to be aligned with this opportunity, with the aim of securing external funding to support the delivery of the scheme.

·      Call for a Broader Regeneration Vision – Several Members, including ward councillors, expressed the view that a more comprehensive regeneration strategy for Bournemouth  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23