Issue - meetings

Report for approval of the contract for Phase 1(a) of the High Road West Scheme, demolition of 2-32 Whitehall Street, and the management plan for the Love Lane estate.

Meeting: 14/07/2026 - Cabinet (Item 12.)

12. Report for approval of the contract for Phase 1(a) of the High Road West Scheme, demolition of 2-32 Whitehall Street, and the management plan for the Love Lane estate. pdf icon PDF 461 KB

Report of the Corporate Director of Culture, Strategy and Communities. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Housing.

Additional documents:

Decision:

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST MADE FOR THIS ITEM:

 

None

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet, after considering the information within the exempt appendices:

 

  1. Approved the appointment of Contractor A, identified in the exempt section of the report, to undertake the demolition of Whitehall Lodge and 2–32 Whitehall Street and to deliver 61 new Council homes at High Road West Phase 1A, for the contract value and contingency amount set out in the exempt report.

  2. Approved the appropriation of Council-owned land within the Phase 1A site, comprising both General Fund and Housing Revenue Account land, for planning purposes under Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972. The appropriation was to take place following demolition of the existing buildings on the site.

  3. Agreed that the appropriation for planning purposes was temporary and necessary to enable demolition, site preparation and construction works required for the development.

  4. Approved the use of the Council’s powers under Section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016, following appropriation of the land, to override easements and other third-party rights or interests that could impede the development of the Phase 1A site.

  5. Approved the subsequent appropriation of the Phase 1A site for housing purposes under Section 19 of the Housing Act 1985 following practical completion of the new-build development.

  6. Delegated authority to the Director of Capital Projects and Property, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Resources, the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Monitoring Officer, to:
    • implement the appropriations referred to in the report and determine their timing;
    • take all necessary steps to enable reliance on Section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016; and
    • agree the terms of, and authorise payment of, any compensation required as a result of exercising those powers.

  7. Delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Housing to approve extensions to the construction and consultancy contracts up to the maximum value set out in the exempt section, subject to approval through the Housing Delivery contingency process.

  8. Approved the total scheme cost for Phase 1A as set out in the exempt report.

  9. Approved the issue of a letter of intent for up to 10% of the contract value specified in the exempt report.

  10. Approved implementation of the Love Lane Estate Management Plan and the associated budget set out in the exempt report. The plan included provision for future decommissioning and demolition, site security and investment in blocks scheduled for later phases of redevelopment.

  11. Approved the commencement of procurement exercises under Contract Standing Order 2.01(b) for site security, decommissioning and demolition works relating to the Ermine, Charles and Moselle blocks once residents had been rehoused and the blocks vacated.

  12. Delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Housing, through a Cabinet Signing process, to approve the award of contracts for site security, decommissioning and demolition of the Ermine, Charles and Moselle blocks where contract values exceeded £500,000.

  13. Agreed a total budget of £1.1 million for delivery of the Love Lane Estate Management Plan.

  14. Delegated authority to the Director of Placemaking and Community Development to submit funding applications  ...  view the full decision text for item 12.