The
Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources introduced the report which
sought approval to provide a long lease to Pocket Living of land
opposite Kerswell Close, in order to
develop 36 housing units subject to planning permission being
obtained. The land at Kerswell Close
was currently a grassed communal area and car parking area with a
retail unit located on it and adjacent to St. Ann’s Road and
was currently HRA land. The land offers the opportunity to provide
a new development of affordable housing in the Borough. There was
strong demand for intermediate housing in the area and this site
provides an opportunity for 36 affordable home ownership units to
be built subject to approval of the planning scheme.
In
response to Cllr Engert’s
question, the planning application decision would take account of
priorities for provision of green spaces.
In
response to Councillor Tucker’s request for Cabinet to
postpone the decision:
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The Leader responded that it was important to take
account of London as a rapidly growing city with an increasing
population and understanding the difficulties in being able to provide housing when
conditions were stacked against the Councils. This would mean re-
considering the density of housing in the whole of London and not
just in Haringey. The Council were striving continually for
affordable housing to meet the scale of housing demand and
considering sites that had not been used for housing
before.
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Also in terms of the quality and space provided by
Pocket homes, the Leader advised visiting the Pocket Living website
to gain an understanding on quality of the homes that they have
provided in boroughs such as Camden and Lambeth.
Councillor Strickland continued to respond to the issues raised
on planning, consultation with the local community and
affordability of housing.
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In relation to the concerns about the protection of
green space and the potential impact of the proposed building on
the look and feel of the area, these would be part of
Planning’s committee’s consideration. Once plans for
the site were submitted to planning, by Pocket Living, there would
be full public consultation instigated allowing these issues/
concerns to come forward prior to consideration of this application
at Planning committee.
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In relation to concerns about the realistic
affordability of these homes and the expected income levels of
people that would be able to afford these homes, the Cabinet Member
for Housing, Regeneration and Planning referred to the evidence
base of the recently agreed intermediate housing strategy which
pointed to a demand for this type of housing. Also the Housing strategy
approved by Cabinet in October and proceeding to full Council on the
21 November , includes an increase
in intermediate housing. Therefore the Council
policy was clear on this.
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Councillor Strickland outlined that shared ownership
had a valuable role in the borough and in Tottenham. It was
important to note that pocket homes would remain affordable in
perpetuity which guarantees this type of housing remains affordable
in the future and is attractive option when considering development
on Council land.
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Councillor Strickland advised that all the normal
building regulations and rules would apply in the planning process
even though Pocket Homes had a prescribed design.
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In terms of the affordability of these
homes, these would be in the average
salary range of a key worker and there
was a desperate need for intermediate
housing as evidenced by the ‘First Steps’ website which indicated that 2300 people in Haringey
had registered interest in one bedroom
homes, demonstrating clear
demand.
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It was important to note that intermediate housing
was part of the housing solution mix and not ‘instead’
of affordable housing.
RESOLVED
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To declare surplus to requirements the land at
Kerswell Close (and edged red on the
attached plan in Appendix A).
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To authorise the disposal of the land on a long
lease and based on the heads of terms set out in Appendix B of the
land to Pocket Living LLP for the sum of £1,000,000. This
will be subject to providing 36 units of intermediate housing which
is also subject to planning.
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To delegate the authority to agree the final price
and heads of terms to the Director Regeneration Planning and
Development after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing
Regeneration and Planning and S151 officer.
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To note that the retail unit on the site will be
disposed of with a loss of £8,000 pa and that budgets be
aligned to reflect this.
Reasons for decision
Pocket
Living specialises in affordable housing developments and is in a
position to deliver a scheme that will maximise the number of units
on the site. This supports the Council’s Corporate Plan and
housing priorities for the Borough.
Alternative options considered
The
Council could retain the land. However this would limit the
opportunity for development and it is unlikely that the number of
affordable units would be delivered on the site as proposed by
Pocket Living.
The
Council could dispose to a Registered Provider. However a number of
other potential Council development sites will shortly be
considered for disposal via this route and Pocket Living will
provide a diversity of affordable tenure within this portfolio with
their affordable sale product.