Issue - meetings

To inform the Cabinet that the current private-sector led development for the former power station site has stalled and recommend the Council pursue an alternative approach which could enable the acquisition of the site with support from Homes England and the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (DLEP).

RESOLVED that Cabinet

(a)             Notes that progress in bringing the site (indicatively edged red on the plan attached at appendix 1 of Report 6) forward has stalled and supports an alternative approach which seeks to explore options for bringing this key brownfield site into public ownership.

(b)            Allocates a sum of £150,000 from Homes England capacity funding to develop a site acquisition strategy with specialist estates and legal advice.

(c)           Notes that the acquisition strategy will be presented to Council and that members will then be presented with the full business case for site acquisition including the use of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers as a contingency.

Voting: Unanimous

REASON

To facilitate this key brownfield site to progress to deliver much needed housing and a new community in Poole, and seek to retain the external funding allocated for the site to address the significant adverse infrastructure costs.

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

The Cabinet was advised that the current private-sector led development for the former power station site had stalled, and it was recommended that the Council pursue an alternative approach which could enable the acquisition of the site with support from Homes England and the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (DLEP). The recommendations in the report aimed to progress the delivery of much needed housing, within the context of the Government’s housing targets for the BCP area, and to seek to retain the external funding allocated for the site which was time limited. The Portfolio Holder emphasised that the use of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers was a contingency.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Board reported that the Board, at its meeting on 8 July 2019 resolved to support the recommendations as outlined within the Cabinet report. He requested that if there was further information available to support the risk, delivery or evidence base for recommendations it would be helpful to have this shared with the Overview and Scrutiny Board in future.

A number of Cabinet Members commented on the community, social and cultural benefits which the proposal could bring, and the opportunity to deliver a sustainable development on a brownfield site which would relieve pressure on the green belt. It was noted that the O&S Board would have the opportunity to consider the full business case for site acquisition. The Cabinet had regard to the statements provided by members of the public on this agenda item. It was noted that it was currently still in the landowners control to bring the site forward if they wished, but as the funding was time limited it was important for the Council to have a strategy in place.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(a)            Notes that progress in bringing the site (indicatively edged red on the plan attached at appendix 1) forward has stalled and supports an alternative approach which seeks to explore options for bringing this key brownfield site into public ownership.

(b)           Allocates a sum of £150,000 from Homes England capacity funding to develop a site acquisition strategy with specialist estates and legal advice.

(c)           Notes that the acquisition strategy will be presented to Council and that members will then be presented with the full business case for site acquisition including the use of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers as a contingency.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing