Agenda item

Since the previous report to Executive in January 2020, during 2020-21 the Council had successfully delivered the following pipeline:

·         5 new-build homes developed for affordable rent at Swift Gardens

·         15 new-build homes acquired for affordable rent at Sandal Street

·         38 homes acquired under the Council’s Purchase and Repair and Move-On Accommodation Programmes

In addition, the Council had completed the demolition of Garfield and Woodburn Views and Trelawney Church as a first step towards enabling the redevelopment of the land north of Queen Elizabeth Road.

Delivery of De-Wint Court was progressing well, with the 70 unit extra care sheltered housing scheme due to complete before the end of the calendar year.

Proposals for the development of Rookery Lane had been informed by detailed surveys and site investigations and the scheme had been refined to take account of comments received as part of the planning consultation process. The final scheme, which was subject to planning consent, comprised 42 high quality homes. Subject to consent and approval of the final budget and delivery agreement, works would commence during Summer 2021, with scheduled completion by December 2022.

The delivery of quality, affordable housing remained a priority for the Council and significant progress had been made despite the challenges presented by the current Covid-19 pandemic. The table set out at paragraph 3.1 of the report provided an update on delivery over the period 2019-23. Further information regarding the Council’s housing delivery programme was set out in the report.

An update regarding Rookery Lane and associated details were also set out in the report. It was noted that the final scheme now comprised a total of 42 new build affordable homes, all of which would be provided for affordable rent upon completion. The design had taken full account of the constraints and opportunities presented by this site and was considered to be in keeping with the surrounding area, making a positive overall contribution to the housing offer within the city. The housing mix had been informed by local need and demand, with the breakdown set out in the table at paragraph 4.6 of the report.

In terms of supporting local housing organisations to deliver additional social housing, since the introduction of the Council’s Acquisition Policy the Council had not received any applications from registered providers for the retained Right to Buy receipts, which was likely due to the availability of alternative funding such as the Homes England grant. However, in order to support all local providers of social housing to provide additional social housing it was proposed to extend the Acquisition Policy to allow all providers of social housing to apply for useable retained Right to Buy receipts. Proposed changes to the Policy were set out in Appendix II attached to the report.

Councillor Donald Nannestad said that the proposals set out in the report were important in terms of the Councils bid to have more Council properties, particularly welcoming the inclusion of more three and four bedroomed properties. It was important for the Council to ensure that it replaced those properties it sold because there was still a high demand for Council housing.