Agenda item

Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet members: Councillor Smith and Giles

(This report contains exempt appendices. Any discussion of this must take place at item 22 following exclusion of the public.)

(Key decision):

(1) To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive, Leader of the Council and Strategic Property Board, to purchase the Health Hub and Car Park from the North Street Quarter scheme, subject to a satisfactory business case and agreeing a purchase price with joint landowner, NSQ Ltd, in respect of both assets.

(2) To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive and Cabinet Member for Finance, to authorise the development of a temporary car park at the site of North Street, and to take all and any steps necessary to facilitate implementation of such development.

(3) To make an allocation of £700,000 for the development of the temporary car park within the 2018/19 capital programme.

(4) To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with East Sussex Country Council, to seek amendments to the existing off-street and on-street Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) which are necessary to implement the permitted North Street Quarter development.

(5) To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Strategic Property Board, to dispose of Council property assets in lieu of part of a cash compensation payment for third party land interests at the NSQ, subject to an independent valuation and this being the most economically advantageous scenario for the Council. Such disposal to be made without the need for auction or the invitation of tenders or expressions of interest following appropriate public advertisement.

(6) To note progress on the acquisition of third party land interests at the NSQ and the intention to appoint specialist advisors to prepare the case for a compulsory purchase order (CPO). The decision to make the CPO, should one be needed, will be the subject of a separate report to Cabinet.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Planning, seeking their approval on matters relating to: the acquisition of assets from the North Street Quarter scheme, the development of, and capital allocation for, a temporary car park at the site; the disposal of Council property assets, and applications to amend the existing Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs).

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive, Leader of the Council and Strategic Property Board, to purchase the Health Hub and Car Park from the North Street Quarter scheme, subject to a satisfactory business case and agreeing a purchase price with joint landowner, NSQ Ltd, in respect of both assets.

(2) To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive and Cabinet Member for Finance, to authorise the development of a temporary car park at the site of North Street, and to take all and any steps necessary to facilitate implementation of such development.

(3) To make an allocation of £700,000 for the development of the temporary car park within the 2018/19 capital programme.

(4) To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with East Sussex Country Council, to seek amendments to the existing off-street and on-street Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) which are necessary to implement the permitted North Street Quarter development.

(5) To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Strategic Property Board, to dispose of Council property assets in lieu of part of a cash compensation payment for third party land interests at the NSQ, subject to an independent valuation and this being the most economically advantageous scenario for the Council. Such disposal to be made without the need for auction or the invitation of tenders or expressions of interest following appropriate public advertisement.

(6) To note progress on the acquisition of third party land interests at the NSQ and the intention to appoint specialist advisors to prepare the case for a compulsory purchase order (CPO). The decision to make the CPO, should one be needed, will be the subject of a separate report to Cabinet.

Reasons for decisions:

(1) To progress delivery of the strategically significant North Street Quarter (NSQ) development in Lewes. The NSQ is a £180m mixed use brownfield site that will deliver the following regeneration benefits to the area:

- 416 new homes, of which 40% will be affordable,

- 140,000 sq. ft. of new commercial space, including subsidised creative workspace

- 475 full time jobs

- 100 full time construction jobs,

- a new modern health centre serving in excess of 26,000 patients,

- strategically important flood defences, completing the defence of Lewes,

- a new riverside promenade, new footbridge, extensive new cycle paths and footpaths, and

- a public square hosting contemporary eateries and riverside dining.

 (2) To ensure that the Council maximises return on its investment into the NSQ scheme, while at the same time minimising any risks involved in delivery and potential financing.