Purpose

Options for the delivery of new homes on the Development Management Plan allocated sites

Decision

RESOLVED – that the Executive agreed:

Gloucester Road Car Park, Redhill Members are asked to agree that:

(i) External advisers be appointed by the Council to:

a. Complete an initial feasibility and viability assessment and to prepare an options appraisal of the routes available to the Council to bring forward the redevelopment of Gloucester Road car park, Redhill, that prioritise the delivery and retention by the Local Authority of new affordable rent and social rent homes,

b. Develop the preferred option for Gloucester Road car park into an outline business case, and

c. Complete the necessary due diligence to inform the outline business case.

(ii) Delegated authority be given to the Head of Place Delivery, Economic Prosperity and Sustainability in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Assets and the Chief Finance Officer (S151) to select the preferred delivery option to be developed into an outline business case.

(iii) The Head of Place Delivery, Economic Prosperity and Sustainability in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Assets and the Chief Finance Officer (S151), be authorised to:

a. Review and approve the outline business case, including the programme, budget, deliverables and procurement strategy, ensuring that a robust business case is in place that demonstrates value for money and is in line with the Council’s Property Disposal Strategy, statutory powers, guidance and legislation.

b. Subject to the approval of the outline business case, to undertake any further due diligence required and complete public consultation.

(iv) Any subsequent decision will be subject to (1) the outcome of the business case and (2) the outcomes of any requisite public consultations, which will enable the relevant officers to be authorised to proceed to declare the Site surplus to requirements, referring back to Executive for further consideration if significant issues are identified at any stage that may impact the in-principle decision to proceed, including but not limited to the outcome of public consultation and to seek the necessary approval, as required under the section 24 Direction of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, from East Surrey Council acting as the shadow authority before vesting date or, after vesting date, from East Surrey Council.

High Street Car Park, Horley

Members agreed their preferred option for the High Street car park:

(v) Option 1: Conditional Open Market Sale

a.    Delegated authority be given to the Head of Property in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Assets and the Chief Finance Officer (S151) to:

(i)             Procure and appoint external advisers to prepare marketing documentation and to undertake an open conditional marketing process of the car park.

(ii)           Prepare the strategic justification and outline business case, and undertake public consultation necessary to inform the decision to declare the Site surplus and subsequently dispose.

(vi) For all three options, any subsequent decision will be subject to (1) the outcome of the business case and (2) the outcomes of any requisite public consultations, which will enable the relevant officers to be authorised to proceed to declare the Site surplus to requirements, referring back to Executive for the formal decision to proceed with disposal and/or further consideration if significant issues are identified at any stage that may impact the in-principle decision to proceed, and to seek the necessary approval, as required under the section 24 Direction of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, from East Surrey Council acting as the shadow authority before vesting date or, after vesting date, from East Surrey Council.

Members are asked to agree that:

(vii) Funding from the Feasibility Studies (Capital Schemes) Reserve, be used to complete the necessary work to progress the preferred option for each car park.

(viii) 54 High Street, Horley, be included within the redline boundary of the High Street car park development site, and that all actions, approvals and recommendations in this report relating to the High Street car park also apply to 54 High Street.