Agenda item

(a)  That it be agreed that the preferred option to redevelop SMP be as follows:

i.  To reconfigure the existing building under Permitted Development (“PD”) rights to provide 64 properties.

ii.  To transfer the asset to the HRA to develop a 100% affordable housing project funded via the HRA through a combination of borrowing, commuted sums and capital receipts.

iii.  To incorporate car parking spaces for the Ice Arena and drop-off car parking for Claycotts Primary School. 

(b)  To facilitate business planning, agree to provide delegated authority for the Executive Director of Place, following consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Executive Director of Corporate Operations to undertake the following:

i.  Identify the preferred procurement route for construction works based on a combination of quality, cost and deliverability and undertake market testing to identify a cost base for the proposed business plan.

ii.  Identify vacant sites within the HRA that could be disposed of and undertake any necessary consultation on disposal of these assets.

iii.  Undertake a more detailed options appraisal, linked to current Council priorities, to inform a final business case for SMP.

(c)  Note that a report would be brought back to Cabinet in Q1 2021/22 to seek approval for the full business plan.

The Head of Property Services introduced a report on the proposed redevelopment of St Martins Place (SMP).

The Cabinet had decided in May 2018 that SMP should be redeveloped to provide a mix of affordable housing and contribute to the delivery of the Housing Strategy.  Authority had previously been given to Slough Urban Renewal (SUR) to undertake a range of building surveys and preliminary design.  The report updated on this work and recommended that remodelling SMP to provide 64 properties under Permitted Development rights was the preferred option.  Lead Members noted the refurbishment options and discussed the ways in which a exemplar Permitted Development scheme could be developed which provided high quality accommodation with more generous space standards than often found in Permitted Developments.  The more extensive redevelopment options such as the ‘top-hat’ approach was evaluated but was not considered optimal for planning and financial reasons.  The current timescale for a Permitted Development scheme was to be commence in August 2021 and complete by November 2022.

Lead Members agreed with the approach set out and commented that as SMP was now vacant it was important to progress the scheme in a timely manner so that the housing would be available and the asset maximised.  A number of questions were asked including about the parking provision, including by Councillor Strutton speaking under Rule 30.  SMP had more car parking spaces than would usually be provided for a residential development of this size.  It was therefore noted that 100 spaces had been allocated for ice arena events capacity and a drop off site for Claycots School.

At the conclusion of the discussion the Cabinet agreed the recommendations and requested that a further report be presented in quarter 1 of 2021/22 with the full business plan.

Resolved –

(a)  That it be agreed that the preferred option to redevelop SMP be as follows:

i.  To reconfigure the existing building under Permitted Development (“PD”) rights to provide 64 properties.

ii.  To transfer the asset to the HRA to develop a 100% affordable housing project funded via the HRA through a combination of borrowing, commuted sums and capital receipts.

iii.  To incorporate car parking spaces for the Ice Arena and drop-off car parking for Claycotts Primary School. 

(b)  To facilitate business planning, it was agreed to provide delegated authority for the Executive Director of Place, following consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Executive Director of Corporate Operations to undertake the following:

i.  Identify the preferred procurement route for construction works based on a combination of quality, cost and deliverability and undertake market testing to identify a cost base for the proposed business plan.

ii.  Identify vacant sites within the HRA that could be disposed of and undertake any necessary consultation on disposal of these assets.

iii.  Undertake a more detailed options appraisal, linked to current Council priorities, to inform a final business case for SMP.

(c)  That it be noted that a report would be brought back to Cabinet in Q1 2021/22 to seek approval for the full business plan.