Agenda item

That:

1)        the Council should make a new compulsory purchase order ("CPO") to acquire the land as shown indicatively edged red on the plan at Appendix 1 of this report (“the Land”) required to deliver the proposed regeneration of land known as land at Gorse Ride South, Finchampstead, Wokingham ("the Site") pursuant to section  226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) (“the 1990 Act”) because it considers that:

a.     the acquisition of the Land will facilitate the carrying out of the development, redevelopment or improvement of the site. 

b.     the development, redevelopment or improvement of the site is likely to contribute to the achievement of any one or more of the promotion or improvement of the economic, social and environmental well-being of the Borough of Wokingham; and

c.  there is a compelling case in the public interest for the CPO.

2)        the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing and Finance, be authorised to: 

a.     take all necessary steps in relation to the Land to secure the making, the confirmation and the implementation of the CPO including publication and service of all relevant notices and the presentation of the Council's case at any Public Inquiry; and

b.     approve terms for the acquisition of legal interests (including rights if required) by agreement including for the purposes of resolving any objections to the CPO.

The Executive considered a report relating to the use of a compulsory purchase order to enable all necessary land interests to be acquired to secure the delivery of the Gorse Ride regeneration project.

The Executive Member for Finance and Housing reminded the meeting that the Gorse Ride regeneration project was the flagship scheme in the Council’s response to escalating need for more and better social housing.  The provision of well planned and delivered social housing had never been more important and data on a national and local level showed that homelessness was on the increase. There was also an escalating demand for temporary accommodation.

Councillor Kaiser confirmed that the use of Compulsory Purchase powers would enable all the necessary land interests to be acquired to secure the delivery of the regeneration of Gorse Ride and the consequential benefits to the local community.  The scheme would deliver improvements to the housing stock within the Borough through the demolition of 178 very poor quality housing units and create 249 new well designed homes. 

Councillor Kaiser reiterated that the Council remained committed to acquiring third party property interests voluntarily without the need to exercise CPO powers.  CPO would only be used as a last resort after all stages of negotiation had been exhausted and only to ensure that the regeneration scheme could proceed in accordance with the timeframe, not only to save money but to ensure that people could move into the homes as soon as possible.    The Council had been able to purchase properties successfully through negotiations but to ensure that the project could be delivered for the whole community the Council needed the ability to exercise CPO powers if required.

Councillor Smith advised that he was impressed with the quality of the houses completed as part of the first phase. 

RESOLVED that:

1)        the Council should make a new compulsory purchase order ("CPO") to acquire the land as shown indicatively edged red on the plan at Appendix 1 of this report (“the Land”) required to deliver the proposed regeneration of land known as land at Gorse Ride South, Finchampstead, Wokingham ("the Site") pursuant to section  226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) (“the 1990 Act”) because it considers that:

a.     the acquisition of the Land will facilitate the carrying out of the development, redevelopment or improvement of the site. 

b.     the development, redevelopment or improvement of the site is likely to contribute to the achievement of any one or more of the promotion or improvement of the economic, social and environmental well-being of the borough of Wokingham; and

c.  there is a compelling case in the public interest for the CPO.

2)        the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing and Finance, be authorised to: 

a.     take all necessary steps in relation to the Land to secure the making, the confirmation and the implementation of the CPO including publication and service of all relevant notices and the presentation of the Council's case at any Public Inquiry; and

b.     approve terms for the acquisition of legal interests (including rights if required) by agreement including for the purposes of resolving any objections to the CPO.