Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: November 27, 2025

Purpose: The report sought approval to purchase an additional 4 homes in Thanet District Council’s General Fund for use as TA. The Council has been successful in securing another 4 homes from Vistry, a developer it has previously worked well with. This paper sought approval to proceed with acquiring the homes at £1,050,000 from this developer.

Content: Cabinet agreed the following:   1.  That the Council progresses with the acquisition of the 4 homes at an acquisition price of £1,050,000.

Reasons for the decision: Purchasing the Homes at Westwood Point enables the Council to increase its TA stock further.   It also provides additional homes that will undoubtedly help with reducing the cost of TA for the Council through payments to third-party nightly-paid accommodation providers.   It also reduces the social toll on those households placed as those people and households to whom the Council accepts a homeless duty will be housed in the Thanet district and not placed away from their support networks and in other boroughs around the county.

Alternative options considered: The Council could elect to not acquire these 4 properties. It has other homes in the area and there is an argument that it is taking homes that could be of an open market tenure. There have been internal discussions about this fact, within the Corporate Plan context of creating a thriving sense of place.   However, having these 4 homes will be easier to manage and maintain, given other homes in the area. It also shows a much-shared understanding of the needs and preferences of the Council and the developer.   The Council could ask the developer to consider an alternative mix of homes or different tenures - however the need for homes for temporary accommodation is laid bare in the report. Therefore, this mix is the most relevant to the needs clearly demonstrated. Furthermore, the Council is set up to manage these homes.   The Council could wait for longer to see if they sold on the open market or if they were obtained by a registered provider (RP). However, as previously mentioned in reports, very few RPs are likely to make an offer for the properties. Though RPs are beginning to express a tentative interest in bidding for s106 homes and additionality homes again, they have yet to do so and developers continue to look to the Council as a trusted delivery partner to get their sites away.