Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources (S151 Officer). To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Housing & Planning (Deputy Leader).

Declarations of interest for this item:

None

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approved the initiation of a tender process for the selection of a contractor to deliver the new-build development of nine Council homes at Kings Road Car Park (land to the rear of St James Place), N17 8NP. This approval included the anticipated total scheme cost as detailed in the exempt section of this report.

Reasons for decisions

The Council’s Contract Standing Order item 2.01.b) requires Cabinet approval to commence a procurement exercise for proposed contracts valued £500,000 or above. 

The site known as Kings Road Car Park (to the rear of St James Place), N17 8NP, was approved by Cabinet in October 2021 for inclusion in the Council’s Housing Delivery Programme. A planning application for the proposed redevelopment will be submitted by October 2025; the application is scheduled for determination at December’s 2025 Planning Committee.

Financial appraisals, supported by the Council’s independent cost consultant, confirm that the scheme is viable and represents value for money.

The proposed development will deliver nine much-needed affordable homes on Council-owned land. The inclusion of larger four-bedroom homes responds directly to a significant gap in the Council’s existing housing stock, particularly for larger households currently placed in temporary or high-cost accommodation due to the lack of suitable provision. This scheme not only meets urgent housing needs but also supports long-term financial sustainability by reducing reliance on more expensive housing solutions. Additionally, the development contributes to the Council’s strategic target of delivering 3,000 new Council homes by 2031.

The proposed development makes efficient use of an underutilised Council-owned site, providing high-quality, affordable housing. This aligns with the Council’s strategic objective to maximise the use of its land assets to meet pressing housing needs.

The proposed development has been designed to address existing issues of anti-social behaviour through improved site layout, natural surveillance, and secure access arrangements. Upgraded refuse storage facilities will support the Council’s efforts to reduce fly-tipping in the area, contributing to a cleaner and safer environment. Collectively, these improvements will enhance the overall quality of the public realm and promote a more positive living environment for existing and future residents.

Alternative options considered

One option considered was not proceeding with a competitive tender or developing the site for housing. However, this approach was discounted as it does not align with the Council’s strategic objective to deliver a new generation of Council homes.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, and Deputy Leader of the Council introduced the report.

It was explained that the proposals sought to progress the development of the Kings Road Car Park site (land to the rear of St James Place, N17 8NP) as part of the Council’s overall Housing Delivery Programme. It was explained that the Council had committed to delivering 3,000 new council homes by 2031 in response to the significant and growing demand for genuinely affordable housing in the borough. This commitment formed a central part of our strategy to address the housing crisis and improve outcomes for residents in housing need. It was noted that the Kings Road Car Park scheme contributed to this target by delivering nine new council homes for affordable rent. The scheme was designed to make efficient use of underutilised council-owned land while enhancing the surrounding environment and supporting inclusive neighbourhood development.

It was highlighted that the proposed project reflected the Council’s wider approach to placemaking, delivering high-quality, sustainable homes that met local needs and contributed positively to the character and functionality of the area.

In response to comments and questions from Councillors Gordon and Cawley-Harrison, the following information was shared:

• It was explained that the site would experience significant investment and improvement as part of the proposed development.
  
  
• It was noted that contract management would be undertaken by a project management team, an employer’s agent at the project level and project review meetings to monitor performance.
  
  
• It was expected that initiation of the site would be by the latest September 2026, in order to ensure that the Council could meet funding deadlines, subject to planning approval.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approved the initiation of a tender process for the selection of a contractor to deliver the new-build development of nine Council homes at Kings Road Car Park (land to the rear of St James Place), N17 8NP. This approval included the anticipated total scheme cost as detailed in the exempt section of this report.

Reasons for decisions

The Council’s Contract Standing Order item 2.01.b) requires Cabinet approval to commence a procurement exercise for proposed contracts valued £500,000 or above. 

The site known as Kings Road Car Park (to the rear of St James Place), N17 8NP, was approved by Cabinet in October 2021 for inclusion in the Council’s Housing Delivery Programme. A planning application for the proposed redevelopment will be submitted by October 2025; the application is scheduled for determination at December’s 2025 Planning Committee.

Financial appraisals, supported by the Council’s independent cost consultant, confirm that the scheme is viable and represents value for money.

The proposed development will deliver nine much-needed affordable homes on Council-owned land. The inclusion of larger four-bedroom homes responds directly to a significant gap in the Council’s existing housing stock, particularly for larger households currently placed in temporary or high-cost accommodation due to the lack of suitable provision. This scheme not only meets urgent housing needs but also supports long-term financial sustainability by reducing reliance on more expensive housing solutions. Additionally, the development contributes to the Council’s strategic target of delivering 3,000 new Council homes by 2031.

The proposed development makes efficient use of an underutilised Council-owned site, providing high-quality, affordable housing. This aligns with the Council’s strategic objective to maximise the use of its land assets to meet pressing housing needs.

The proposed development has been designed to address existing issues of anti-social behaviour through improved site layout, natural surveillance, and secure access arrangements. Upgraded refuse storage facilities will support the Council’s efforts to reduce fly-tipping in the area, contributing to a cleaner and safer environment. Collectively, these improvements will enhance the overall quality of the public realm and promote a more positive living environment for existing and future residents.

Alternative options considered

One option considered was not proceeding with a competitive tender or developing the site for housing. However, this approach was discounted as it does not align with the Council’s strategic objective to deliver a new generation of Council homes.