Issue - meetings

The purpose of this report is to seek Members’ approval to take forward the marketing of Council owned sites identified in the Accelerated Housing Delivery Programme (AHDP), by soft market testing these using the Homes England (HE) HCA procurement process. The report was considered by the Economy and Growth Select Committee on 7 February 2019.

Options considered:

To not approve using the Homes England HCA procurement framework to soft market testing council owned sites. The council owns a number of sites allocated for housing. These sites may require a more imaginative mechanism for delivery of viable housing development. By not investigating these through soft market testing, the council would not be informed of the best delivery options and as such, the sites were likely to stall and delivery be delayed. Therefore, not taking action to develop them was not recommended.

To approve using the Homes England HCA procurement framework to soft market test council own sites. By soft market testing the various sites the council could be informed of the best possible mechanisms to deliver viable housing development on council land and accelerate development. By using the HE framework the council would be gaining direct access to professionals and developers who are currently working in the housing market and could best advise on the viability and appetite for delivery mechanisms within the Borough. Therefore, this option was recommended.

RESOLVED:

That the Council enter into an agreement with Homes England to soft market test a number of Council owned sites throughout the Borough as set out in paragraphs 3.4 and 3.5 of the report be approved.

Approval was sought to take forward the marketing of council owned sites identified in the Accelerated Housing Delivery Programme (AHDP) by soft market testing these using the Home England (HE) HCA procurement process.

In response to a question, it was noted that by soft testing the sites, real market information would be obtained around how the sites should come to market. 

RESOLVED:

That the Executive be recommended to approve that the Council enter into an agreement with HE to soft market test a number of council owned sites throughout the district as set out in paragraphs 3.4 and 3.5 of the report.