Agenda item

[Report of the Director of Housing, Regeneration and Planning. To be introduced by the Leader of the Council.]

This report seeks approval to appoint the recommended contractor, Contractor B, to undertake a Masterplanning exercise and design development across RIBA Stage 0-3+.

[Councillor Chandwani – left the Chamber]

The Leader of the Council introduced this report which sought approval to appoint the recommended contractor, Contractor B, to undertake a Masterplanning exercise and design development across RIBA Stage 0-3+.

The Leader started by noting the Council and the Selby Trust had developed a high-level vision to create an integrated, inclusive, healthy, sustainable, diverse and connected urban village? on the sites of the Selby Centre and Bull Lane Playing Fields. The proposed mixed use development on the Selby Centre and Bull Lane sites had the potential to deliver up to 200 new homes, including council housing (appx 50%); re-provision of the Selby Centre in a new dedicated community hub; new retail, and sports and recreation facilities in the adjacent Bull Lane Playing Fields. 

The Leader noted the Selby Urban Village project was an ambitious development arising from a shared aspiration between Haringey Council and the Selby Trust to deliver a community focused, mixed-use scheme on the Selby Centre and Bull Lane Playing Field sites and would support the Council’s Priorities set out in the Borough Plan.

The Leader highlighted that this scheme was an example of the Council’s commitment to building new homes and in particular council homes and improving living standards for, and in partnership with, the local community, to ensure they could participate and benefit from the investment in their neighbourhood. For the Selby Centre this is a great opportunity to improve the existing provision for the community. By being part of the co-design and delivery of a centre and building, in which the Trust and its users really thrive and continue to be a valued asset to the community. The inclusion of Bull Lane (Playing field) as part of the re-development, could deliver significant improvements to the area, including state-of-the-art community sporting provisions – enabling local people to participate and enjoy recreational and sports activities within their neighbourhood.

In response to questions from Councillor Connor, the following information was provided:

• Regarding the £1.4mil budget for the Selby Urban Village Project, the Leader informed there was a joint project board with the Council working with Selby which would have an input into how that money was spent. However, the Council would make any final decision, following input by the Board.
• The Leader accepted traffic was an issue and noted there was to be a buses service review for the entirety of North London. The Council would be seeking to address areas where there could be an improvement to public transport, however, Selby was not, at present, an area marked for any prospective bus routes. Following the review, the Council would be looking at which areas could be better served by public transport. It was hoped the development would minimise the use of cars and the Leader noted there would be no through route across the site.
• Officers noted that, if the project was to be delivered by the Council Housing Programme, then it would be delivered by the Council and not Homes for Haringey (although it was expected Homes for Haringey would manage the homes, in that situation).
• Regarding the type of businesses that would form part of the Selby Urban Village, Officers informed this would be contingent on a number of factors, such as the needs of the local community, what was viable, and the space required by the businesses.

Following consideration of exempt information,

RESOLVED

1. To approve the award of the contract to undertake Masterplanning and Design Development work to the successful tenderer (Contractor B) in accordance with the provisions of the Council’s Standing Order (CSO) 9.07.1(d) for a total sum of £741,666.20;

2. To create a capital scheme called the Selby Urban Village Project with a budget of £1.4m; and

3. To vire £1.4m from the Strategic Regeneration & Community Assets scheme to the Selby Urban Village project.

Reasons for decision

The Selby Urban Village project arises from a shared aspiration between Haringey Council and the Selby Trust to deliver a community focused, mixed-use development on the Selby Centre and Bull Lane Playing Field sites. The proposed development will comprise the re-provision of the Selby Centre’s community hub in a new building, and new housing, including Council homes, along with sports and recreation facilities. Both sites are in the ownership of Haringey Council, although the adjacent Bull Lane Playing Fields is located within the administrative area of the London Borough of Enfield.

Following a competitive tender process, a preferred bidder has been identified to undertake Masterplanning and design development work across RIBA Stage 0-3, including the preparation and submission of two planning applications to LB of Haringey (Selby site) and LB of Enfield (Bull Lane playing fields).

There will be a clear gateway contract break clause at the end of each RIBA Stage to review the central viability of this mixed-use scheme, as a whole. This will take into consideration financial, planning and community priorities as the scheme progresses and making a recommendation on next steps.

Alternative options considered

The authority procured the contract through LOT 4 of the GLA’s ADUP and TFL framework. The authority considered the use of alternative procurement options but upon consideration, and due to time constraints, it was decided to proceed with the ADUP Framework.