Issue - meetings

[Report of the Director for Planning, Regeneration and Development. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration.] Details the feasibility of the disposal of a strip of undeveloped land along Monument Way within Chestnut Estate to deliver affordable housing as part of the Tottenham Regeneration Programme.

The Leader introduced the report which sought approval to dispose of the Monument Way site to Newlon Housing Trust. Approval was sought to grant right to buy receipts to Newlon Housing Trust to enable a scheme with a proportion of affordable rent homes significantly above the current planning policy requirement. The Leader commented that Monument Way was located in Tottenham Hale, which had been designated as a Housing Zone by the Mayor of London and the Council was keen to bring forward new housing developments, including as much affordable housing as possible. In order to facilitate this, the Council needed to bring forward sites that it owned for redevelopment. The Leader advised that the proposal included the use of right to buy receipts, enabling this funding to be utilised to provide as much affordable housing as possible.

In response to a question from Cllr Morris, the Leader agreed that the consideration of open space and light was important in delivering high quality developments but stated that ensuring that one of the plots was maintained as open space would be a matter for Planning Committee to determine. The AD Capital Major Projects advised that the fourth plot was excluded from the land that was being transferred to Newlon Housing Trust and would be kept for public realm works.

In response to further questions from Cllr Morris, the Leader advised that all 44 units would be affordable homes and also advised that the Council were unable to insulate the development from the potential of the units being available under the right to buy scheme in the future. The Leader further advised that right to buy had been extended to housing association tenants and the Council had to operate within the law.

RESOLVED

1.    To declare the Monument Way site (shown edged red on the site plan attached at Appendix A of the report) surplus to requirements.

2.    To authorise the disposal of the Monument Way site to Newlon Housing Trust for the sum set out in Part B of the reportand on the terms set out in the Heads of Terms attached in Part B.

3.    To note the intention to acquire the piece of land at the end of Fairbanks Road ( shaded  green on the plan attached in Appendix A of the report) from Holy Trinity School and part of the land shaded  orange on the plan attached in Appendix A of the report from Transport for London  and to dispose to Newlon Housing Trust as part of recommendation 3.1 (b) of the report  and on the basis that the disposal is likely to contribute to the achievement of the promotion or improvement of the economic or social or the environmental well being of the area.

4.    That delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration Planning and Development after consultation with the Section 151 Officer and Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration to agree the final details of the Heads of Terms and contract  ...  view the full minutes text for item 217