Purpose

In
response to the pressing need for affordable housing, the Cabinet
has approved opportunities being pursued from the market, where
contracts are now to be exchanged to secure a 39-unit scheme, to be
delivered on a turn-key basis for Crawley Homes ownership.

The authority to award the contract and complete the legal
documentation was delegated by Cabinet at its meeting on 27
September 2023, as identified in section 5.2 of report
CH/201.

Subsequently, on 28 March 2024, the Leader (in consultation with
the Cabinet Member for Housing, Head of Crawley Homes and Head of
Governance, People & Performance) exercised this delegation and
authorised contracts being entered into for the delivery of this
scheme for Council-owned affordable housing (report CH/205 refers).
This decision was published in the Councillors’ Information
Bulletin IB/1226a, and this contract is now due to be
exchanged.

At its meeting on 12 March 2025 the Cabinet considered report
CH/216 and, as well as reiterating the delegation given to the
Leader at its meeting on 27 September 2023, recommended that the
Full Council approve a supplementary capital estimate in the
Crawley Homes Acquisitions Budget to enable ongoing delivery of
affordable housing within the HRA. Full Council approved that
revision to the budget at its meeting on 26 March 2025 (minute 5
refers).

Content

That
all legal documentation for the site identified in section 5.2 of
report CH/201 (and section 5.2 of report CH/216) be approved.

The decision was taken by the Chief Executive (on behalf of the
Head of Crawley Homes), Head of Corporate Finance and the Head of
Governance, People & Performance, in consultation with the
Leader and the Cabinet Member for Housing on 17 October
2025.

Alternative options considered

Options considered were to either acquire the
land from the developer for the Council to then procure the
necessary works to deliver the scheme, or to proceed with the
acquisition of a package deal whereby the developer delivers the
scheme on a turn-key arrangement.

The turn-key option was selected as the preferred approach, with
less demand on Council resources, and as the more cost-effective
and time-efficient route to bring this scheme to
completion.