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(a) To agree to the award of a grant of up to
£10,000 from the Community Housing Fund to Great Oakley
Community Hub Ltd (the Society), towards the cost of architectural,
structural engineer and similar professional services related to
the preparatory work associated with the proposed redevelopment of
the Red House in Great Oakley as community led housing; and
(b) To authorise the Assistant Director for Housing and Environment
to allocate funding to the Society for additional financial support
to enable them to complete the associated preparatory work to bring
forward the scheme for planning permission to redevelop and bring
back into use a long term empty property.

Reasons for the decision

The recommendations are made in order to
facilitate the delivery of community led housing in the District
and to make effective use of the remaining Community Housing Fund
allocation.

Alternative options considered

An alternative option considered is not to
provide any funding to the Society. This would not however be in
the spirit of why the Community Housing Fund Grant was allocated to
the Council back in 2016. It would also not be supportive of
potential development of the Red House in Great Oakley that is
currently sitting vacant.