Agenda item

Community Led Housing Programme Update

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Director which updated Members on the Community Led Housing (CLH) Programme including funding agreements and project progress.

 

In December 2016, the Government allocated community housing funds to 148 councils to provide additional homes and affordable housing within their communities.  Rother had received a total of £748,899 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the largest amount in East Sussex.  In July 2017, full Council approved to ring-fence £50,000 of the Community Housing Fund (CFH) allocation for revenue spend, supporting start-up fees of CLH groups and pre-development costs, as well as meeting any funding gaps to ensure community groups had the financial means to progress schemes.  To date £31,049 had been allocated to deliver 22 affordable homes.  Additionally, it was agreed that £598,899 would be used to support capital funding of affordable housing delivery.

 

In July 2018, the Government announced that a further £163m CHF allocation would be available for communities across England.  Bidding for this funding would need to be made to Homes England and would only be available up to 2020.  Future funding was currently under review and the Government had recently asked the CLH sector to collate a strong evidence base, demonstrating the need for funding to be extended beyond 2020.  Therefore, CLH groups and local authorities were encouraged to progress all projects as quickly as possible.

 

To deliver CLH projects and in conjunction with nine other local authorities across Sussex, full Council approved 4-year funding of £25,000 per annum and the development of the Sussex Community Housing Hub (SCHH).  The SCHH had successfully held a number of events to grow the sector, helped to establish community groups across the county, provided business planning assistance, project management and general advice etc.

 

The report identified the current CLH schemes in Rother, as follows:

 

·       Main Road, Icklesham: A rural exception site delivered by Icklesham Parish Community Land Trust (IPCLT) in partnership with Hastoe Housing Association.  In May 2019, planning permission was granted for 15 affordable homes, subject to section 106 agreement.  It was noted that to progress the site, IPCLT would require additional CHF provision.

·       Cemetery Lodge, Bexhill: Situated on the corner of Turkey Road and St Mary’s Lane.  Early discussions with planning indicated that as a cleared site the land had potential for 5-8 dwellings, subject to specific conditions including demolition of Cemetery Lodge and relocating the entrance of the cemetery to St Mary’s Lane.  However Bexhill Heritage has raised concerns over the demolition of Cemetery Lodge and requested other options for development be considered that retained the Lodge.  Bexhill Community Land Trust Steering Group (BCLTSG) had agreed to consider all options for developing the site and their current preferred option was for a cleared site.  In order for BCLTSG to progress the site and deliver a viable CLH scheme it was proposed that the Council sold the site at a capped existing use value (current form) to BCLT. 

·       Sidley Allotments: Identified for small scale housing scheme.  BCLTSG had engaged with a registered provider to undertake a robust feasibility assessment of potential options for the allotments.  Development of the site would be subject to Secretary of State approval and public consultation, as well as the provision of suitable alternative allotments.  Members felt this was premature and wanted further consultation with the Ward Members, Allotment Holders and local residents and to report back to Cabinet.

·       Land at Fairview, Guestling: Identified for a rural exception CLH scheme.  It was recommended that SCHH engage with the local community to progress this site.

 

Each recommendation was considered in turn and the following was noted:

 

·       Cabinet was supportive of the progression of the Icklesham exception site and exploration of the land at Fairview.

·       Mixed views were expressed regarding the site at Cemetery Lodge; should the Lodge be retained or demolished?  Additional information provided by Bexhill Heritage who wanted to preserve the Lodge was considered.  Following discussion, it was agreed that BCLT be offered the site for sale subject to progress to a planning application being approved within 12 months, and that delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director to agree the final terms of the sale.  If planning or the sale to BCLT was not achievable to report back to Cabinet.

·       Members felt that further consultation with Ward Members, Allotment Holders and residents was required prior to the sale of the Sidley Allotments site.  It was therefore agreed to defer this recommendation until after this had been completed.  

 

Cabinet was fully supportive of the delivery of CLH schemes, increasing affordable housing projects and potentially attracting future funding opportunities to the district.

 

RESOLVED: That:

 

1)     the progress of the Icklesham exception site by Icklesham Parish Community Land Trust in partnership with Hastoe, detailed within the report be noted;

 

2)     exploration of the site of Land at Fairview by the Sussex Community Housing Hub for the purposes of delivering a Community Led Housing Scheme be supported;

 

3)     the site of Cemetery Lodge be offered for sale to Bexhill Community Land Trust for the purposes of delivering a Community Led Housing Scheme subject to progression to a planning application within 12 months; if not able to deliver to report back to Cabinet;

 

4)     delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director to agree the final terms of sale for the Cemetery Lodge site, recovering the costs incurred by the Council in preparing the site for future development; and

 

5)     the consideration of the sale of the site of Sidley Allotments be deferred until further consultation had been held with Sidley Ward Members, Allotment Holders and residents.

 

(Councillors Mrs Bayliss, Byrne, Coleman, Drayson, Gray, Langlands, Madeley and Timpe each declared a personal interest in this matter as they were members of Bexhill Heritage and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct remained in the room during the consideration thereof).

 

(Councillor Brewerton declared a personal interest in this matter as she was Vice-Chair of Bexhill Community Land Trust and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct remained in the room during the consideration thereof).

 

(Councillor Oliver declared a personal interest in this matter as he had assisted Bexhill Heritage with previous projects and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct remained in the room during the consideration thereof).

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