Issue - meetings

That:

1)        Wokingham Housing Limited or another Council-owned Local Housing Company be selected as the development partner for housing schemes at the following sites:

·         Land at Wellington Road/Station Road, Wokingham;

·         Land at the former Woodley Age Concern, South Lake Crescent, Woodley.

2)        the Council transfers the Wellington Road/Station Road and land at the former Woodley Age Concern sites to a Council-owned housing company on terms to be agreed by the Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Lead Members for Housing and Finance;

3)        the sites subject to Recommendation 1 above are appropriated for planning purposes under section 227 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972;

4)        the proposed funding model, including the allocation of up to £550,000 Section 106 receipts for the provision of affordable housing, in accordance with the Part 2 Report, be approved;

5)       the development brief for these sites, including the proposed tenure mix be approved;

6)       the transfer of land and funding for the Wellington Road/Station Road and former Woodley Age Concern site developments will be subject to WHL securing a planning consent for the schemes and the necessary Board approvals.

The Executive considered a report setting out a proposal that a Council owned housing company be selected as the development partner for housing schemes at Wellington Road/Station Road, Wokingham and the former Woodley Age Concern Site in Woodley.

In introducing the report the Executive Member for Housing drew Members’ attention to the two sites that were being proposed for development of more affordable housing and thanked the Ward Members for their help in making sure that the schemes were right for the relevant Wards.  Councillor Jorgensen advised that the scheme would be funded by a mixture of S106 commuted sums, borrowing and grant funding.  It was noted that 9 x 1-bed and 10 x 2-bed apartments were being proposed on the Wellington Road site and 10 houses, with a tenure mix of social rent and shared ownership, on the Woodley Age Concern site which would provide opportunities for people who required housing but may not be able to afford full commercial rates.

In relation to the Wellington Road/Station Road site Councillor Mirfin stated that he was delighted the proposal was going forward, particularly as the site was one of the gateways into the Town and had been derelict for a long time.  He advised that it was important to get the right design on the site and to this end the Council had been working and would continue to consult with local residents to ensure that what was being proposed was right for the area.  

RESOLVED that:

1)        Wokingham Housing Limited or another Council-owned Local Housing Company be selected as the development partner for housing schemes at the following sites:

·         Land at Wellington Road/Station Road, Wokingham;

·         Land at the former Woodley Age Concern, South Lake Crescent, Woodley.

2)        the Council transfers the Wellington Road/Station Road and land at the former Woodley Age Concern sites to a Council-owned housing company on terms to be agreed by the Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Lead Members for Housing and Finance;

3)        the sites subject to Recommendation 1 above are appropriated for planning purposes under section 227 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972;

4)        the proposed funding model, including the allocation of up to £550,000 Section 106 receipts for the provision of affordable housing, in accordance with the Part 2 Report, be approved;

5)       the development brief for these sites, including the proposed tenure mix be approved;

6)       the transfer of land and funding for the Wellington Road/Station Road and former Woodley Age Concern site developments will be subject to WHL securing a planning consent for the schemes and the necessary Board approvals.