Issue - meetings

To consider the proposal by One Housing Group for a variation of the current s106 agreement for the 624 High Road Tottenham development as agreed in January 2010. No other changes for the planning application are sought.

The Committee considered a report, previously circulated, setting out a proposal for a variation of the current s106 agreement for the 624 High Road, Tottenham, development as agreed in January 2010. The proposed new tenure mix was set out in the report; in order to ensure the viability of the scheme, it was proposed that the number of affordable housing units be reduced from 18 to 12 units, with the proposed social rented housing being converted to affordable rent. It was further proposed that authority be delegated to the Assistant Director Planning, Regeneration and Economy in conjunction with the Deputy Director for Community Housing Services to agree the tenure of the 12 affordable units, in order to allow flexibility to best meet the needs of those on the housing waiting list.

The following points were made in response to questions asked by Members:

• It was confirmed that a full viability assessment had been undertaken by an independent organisation, and scrutinised by the Council in order to confirm that there was a real reduction in funding, that there was no concealment of profits and to analyse the new business plan. A full three dragons analysis had not been undertaken, as the issue in respect of the reduction in subsidy was sufficiently clear.
• The significant reduction in subsidy was likely to have an impact on the delivery of affordable housing, and affordable rent was now the only form of affordable housing for which funding was available. It was necessary to make the most of what was available, and it was for this reason that flexibility was being sought to enable a range of affordable rents to be offered to reflect the needs of those on the housing waiting list.
• It was suggested that the training session for Members on the three dragons assessment toolkit be repeated.

The Chair moved the recommendation of the report, with the additional delegation to the Assistant Director Planning, Regeneration and Economy in conjunction with the Deputy Director for Community Housing Services to determine the tenure of the 12 affordable units, and it was:

RESOLVED

That the variations to the existing s106 Agreement attached to planning permission HGY/2009/1532 for the development of 624 High Road, Tottenham, as set out in the report, be agreed, with the additional delegation to the Assistant Director Planning, Regeneration and Economy in conjunction with the Deputy Director for Community Housing Services to determine the tenure of the 12 affordable units.