Decision details

To update members on progress and provide details of next stages

The Housing Service Manager – Business Planning and Strategy, submitted a report to update Members on the progress of the environmental work planned for the London Boroughs estate at Barrow Hill since the scheme was approved by Cabinet in March, 2015. The report also sought approval for ex-gratia payments to be made to owner occupier households, as compensation for acquiring land to deliver the scheme, and for permission to demolish two blocks of flats to facilitate a future phase of environmental improvements for the London Boroughs Estate. 

It was noted that since the plans had been approved by Cabinet progress had been made in the following areas:

·        Completion of highways and drainage surveys

·        Negotiation with Right-to-Buy owners on the estate

·        Development of detailed design

·        Preparation of a Planning Application for submission

·        Scoping options on a second phase of works on land surrounding Duewell Court

·        A review of demand for flats in Barrow Hill

·        Development of tender documents for appointing a contractor to deliver the improvements

·        New staircases for flats was being installed

·        Planting plans and schedules developed

The Housing Service Manager also provided an update on Kier’s negotiations with the owners of right to buy properties in the area where their property boundaries would be affected by the environmental improvements. The original proposals affected the boundaries of twenty four privately owned properties, however only two were critical to the delivery of the scheme. It was noted that negotiations with these two households had been successful and that outline terms for the transferal of their land to Council had been agreed.

Work had also started on what a second phase of environmental improvements for the London Boroughs estate would look like, with a large underutilised area of land surrounding Duewell Court being part of these considerations. Initial discussions had taken place with the Homes and Communities Agency about suitable programmes to bring forward the development of the land. In order to increase the attractiveness of the land, the demolition of the two blocks of flats at Chiswick Court and Ealing Court had been considered.

It was noted that there was a significant over supply of flats on the estate, with high turnover rates and many properties being difficult to let. Tenants in Chiswick and Ealing Court would be offered the opportunity to transfer to alternative properties anywhere within the Borough, and will also be eligible for home loss and disturbance payments. The demolition of the two blocks would enable an improved layout for the environmental improvement scheme allowing better integration with the proposed second phase of works at Barrow Hill.

In the original proposals all of the costs associated with the scheme were to be met by the Housing Revenue Account and from the 2015/16 and 2016/17 Housing Capital Programmes. In the budget in July 2015, it had been announced that social and affordable housing rents were to be cut by 1% a year, for four years. The implications of this change had meant that as the income that had been predicted to be received had been reduced, several cost saving measures had had to be integrated into the proposals. The schedule of works had also been re-phased to take place over the financial years 2016/17 and 2017/18, in order that the planned environmental improvements could still be delivered, but also be affordable.

*RESOLVED -

1.   That Cabinet continues to support the on-going delivery of the Barrow Hill Environmental Improvements Master-Plan.

2.   That Cabinet approves the revisions to the budget and the phasing of the work, in order to ensure that the proposals are affordable following the changes announced in the Government summer budget and the subsequent impact on the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan.

3.   That a budget of £2,500 is set aside to cover the cost of making payments to property owners in Barrow Hill in order to facilitate the delivery of the environmental improvements, and to reduce the likelihood of objections to the Planning Application.

4.   That the Right-to-Buy property of 8 Chelmsford Way is purchased in order to facilitate the delivery of the environmental improvements.

5.   That the the blocks of flats, namely Ealing Court and Chiswick Court are demolished in order to facilitate a future phase of development at Barrow Hill in the area around Duewell Court.

6.   That the Housing Services Manager – Business Planning and Strategy be authorised to tender for, and appoint a demolition contractor.

7.   That a further report is brought to Members, following an open tender process with a recommendation to appoint a contractor to deliver the improvement programme.

REASON FOR DECISIONS

To meet the Corporate Plan 2015-19 key objective “to increase the quality of public space for which the Council has responsibility through targeted improvement programmes.”