Purpose

To present the findings of an external options appraisal carried out on ten Housing Revenue Account (HRA) tower blocks and to determine the viable options to undertake a formal consultation exercise with the residents and stakeholders of the blocks.

Decision

Agreed (i) – That Cabinet notes the contents and findings of the externally commissioned report ‘High- Rise H Blocks Options Appraisal’ (Appendix 1).

Agreed (ii) – That Cabinet rescinds the previous ‘in principle’ decision to redevelop all ten blocks, as approved by Cabinet in January 2023 (NOD 2010), on the basis that it is no longer a financially viable option.

Agreed (iii) – That Cabinet approves the following two options to take forward to consultation:

·         Option (1b) – Retention and refurbishment of all sites to an enhanced standard; and

·        Option (3) – Hybrid of investment (enhanced refurbishment to 7 blocks and demolition and land bank sites relating to 3 blocks).

Agreed (iv) – That Cabinet delegates authority to the Corporate Director of Housing, Regeneration and Operation in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Safe and Resilient Communities and Housing to commence consultation with residents and stakeholders of the affected blocks in respect of the preferred options specified in paragraph 1.3 of this report.

Agreed (v) – That Cabinet notes that following consultation, a more detailed proposal will follow for Cabinet to consider once feedback is received.