Agenda item

[Report of the Interim Director for Housing, Regeneration and Planning. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Strategic Regeneration.]

The report will ask for Cabinet’s approval to appropriate some LBH-owned to the general fund in order to dispose under Section 123 of the Local Government Act, at nil value, for socio-economic reasons, in order to facilitate the White Hart Lane Station redevelopment. It will also ask for delegation for the Director of Housing, Regeneration and Planning to make any further amends to the Heads of Terms if required.

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Regeneration introduced this report which sought Cabinet approval to appropriate two parcels of land that sat within the new White Hart Lane (“WHL”) Station redevelopment area in order to dispose of them to Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

Cabinet were informed the station redevelopment works would include a new: double-height ticket hall; well-lit station entrance; step-free London Overground ticket gate lines and station facilities; the erection of 20 cycle spaces and 3 disabled car parking spaces; and works to forecourt areas and public realm enhancements. Crucially, the station would have step-free access between the ticket hall concourse and both the northbound and southbound platforms.

The Cabinet Member noted that, for this project to go ahead, the sites would need to be appropriated to TfL, as TfL were not able to release the funds for the acquisition of those lands. It was anticipated the Council would have its money returned if those funds were released.

Officers confirmed they would write to Cllr Cawley-Harrison regarding the extent of the proposed step-free access at the station and its surrounding area. 

Further to considering the exempt information at item 23,

RESOLVED

1. To agree the appropriation of two freehold land parcels, one of which is known as “land on Love Lane” (shown edged red on the plan attached at Appendix 1) and the other of which is known as the “UKPN site” (shown edged red on the plan attached at Appendix 2) from being held in the General Fund for planning purposes to the General fund for general purposes; and 

2. To agree the transfer of these land parcels to Network Rail Infrastructure Limited for a sum of £1.00 for the purposes set out in paragraph 6.1 this report and based on the draft Heads of Terms attached at Appendix 3 of this report; and

3. To give delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Regeneration to agree the final Heads of Terms for the transfer.

Reasons for decision

These recommendations are being made to enable the redeveloped WHL Station to open in summer 2019. The redeveloped station will deliver a range of economic, social and environmental benefits to the local community. The station redevelopment has been delivered using over £25 million of public funds and will continue to attract further investment into North Tottenham.

Alternative options considered

The following alternative option has been considered:-

Option 1 – Don’t undertake the land transfer

The Council could refuse to undertake the land transfer and require that the station be operated under a new legal structure that does not stipulate that Network Rail own the land.

This option has been discounted as Network Rail have been clear from the outset that they must own the land to enable RfL to operate it legally. This arrangement has been in place since the 2012 Mayor’s Regeneration Fund funding agreement between the various parties. The Council would risk damaging its relationship with Network Rail if it does not honour this arrangement and it would lead to the Station being unable to open in summer 2019 and impact on delivery of the benefits to the local community.