The Renewal, Recreation and Housing Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to discuss a report on the Local Authority Housing Fund Round 4 (LAHF4) grant programme. The report outlines proposals for using the £27.6m grant to reduce the council's burdens and cost pressures of temporary accommodation. The main proposal involves adding the Chipperfield Road Site to the Capital Programme and submitting a scheme to the Local Authority Housing Fund 4 programme.

Local Authority Housing Fund - Round 4

The committee will be considering a report regarding the Local Authority Housing Fund Round 4 (LAHF4) grant programme, from the Ministry of Housing, Communities, Local Government (MHCLG). Bromley Council has received an indicative allocation of £27.633m. The report states that to receive the funding, the council must submit a viable scheme by 19 December 2025 that meets the LAHF requirements, including delivering or acquiring 105 homes for permanent or temporary accommodation and 18 homes for the resettlement programme.

The preferred option is to deliver new homes, and the report considers options for delivery of new housing stock. One option is to bring forward a more complex site, such as the Chipperfield Road site in St Paul's Cray, which has historically been difficult for the council to develop.

The Chipperfield Road site, also known as 'Site 6' in the Local Plan 2019, is a former secondary school site that currently houses Bromley Valley Gymnastic Club (BVGC). The site is allocated for around 200 homes, as well as the reprovision of St Paul Cray Library, community uses, and the Bromley Valley Gym facilities.

The report notes that the planning allocation for the site is currently being reviewed as part of the Local Plan review workstream, and the housing requirement is likely to reduce. It is considered that the delivery of 123 units, plus appropriate public realm, with a new gymnastic centre is likely to be considered favourably by the Local Planning Authority.

The report states that the site is complex, as the planning requirement to maintain a gymnastic club on the site, whilst delivering at least 50% affordable homes has impacted the viability of the site. The MHCLG grant would give the council a greater level of flexibility that allows the council to forward fund the gymnastic club, that would then be paid off through the rent and TA savings in the first 7-10 years.

The Bromley Valley Gymnastics Club (BVGC) currently pay a rent to the council of £20,400 per annum. The building has a significant maintenance backlog, and the current rent is reflective of the repair works required to the building. An initial rental assessment of a Full Repairing and Insurance Lease (FRIL) of a new build, based on similar locations is expected to be in the region of £40-£60k per annum, subject to a valuation based on the specification of the build agreed.

The report states that BVGC have been engaged, are keen to see a development of the club and the wider site, which will provide the club and young people they serve sustainability. The club currently supports around 600 young people, and a range of daytime activities. BVGC have confirmed they are willing to accept a Full Repair and Insurance Lease, if the Club is rebuilt and designed with them.

The report includes an indicative timetable for the project, with the following key milestones:

• Expression of Interest (EOI) confirming delivery by 19 December 2025
• Funding confirmation by early March 2026
• Memorandum of Understanding completion by 17 April 2026
• Commitment of at least 60% of the grant by 17 July 2026
• Planning application submitted by September 2026
• Start on site by March/April 2027
• Complete on site by August 2030

The report also outlines the financial implications of the scheme, with an estimated cost of £71.417m. The capital grant available is £27.633m, leaving £43.784m to be funded from capital borrowing. The report notes that while the scheme shows a negative net present value in terms of costs and income solely associated with it, when current savings from decanting higher cost households from temporary accommodation are taken into account, the scheme shows a positive net present value.

The report also details the legal, personnel, procurement, and property implications of the scheme, as well as risk management, transformation/policy implications, impact on vulnerable adults and children, impact on health and wellbeing, impact on the local economy, carbon reduction/social value implication, customer impact - consultation and public engagement, and ward councillor views.

The report recommends that the committee consider the report and provide comments to the Executive. The Executive are asked to propose to Full Council the addition of Chipperfield Road Site to the Capital Programme, approve the submission of the Chipperfield scheme to the Local Authority Housing Fund 4 programme, and approve in principle the acceptance of Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) Round 4 funding estimated to be £27.633m, for the Chipperfield Road scheme.

Standard Items

The agenda includes standard items such as apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and questions from councillors and members of the public.