Issue - meetings
Proposed disposal of Highfield Road Car park for Affordable Housing
Meeting: 05/02/2024 - Cabinet (Item 27)
27 Proposed disposal of Highfield Road Car park for Affordable Housing 
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Executive Summary |
This report sets out a proposal to dispose of the NNDC owned car park at Highfield Road, Fakenham to Flagship Housing for the development of affordable housing.
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Options considered
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- Retain site as a car park - Exchange site for Fakenham Town Council owned land elsewhere in Fakenham
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Consultation(s) |
Fakenham Town Council District Councillors for Lancaster South & North Portfolio Holder for Housing and Peoples’ Services Estates and Property Services
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Recommendations
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It is recommended that Cabinet: - Agree that Highfield Road is surplus to requirements - That NNDC enter into an option agreement with Flagship Housing (subject to Planning Permission) for sale of the Highfield Road car park to be developed for affordable housing. - That demolition of the existing toilet block on the site is undertaken as soon as is possible
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Reasons for recommendations
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The development of the Highfield Car park offers the opportunity to make better use of an under-used car park, to deliver badly needed affordable homes, to generate a capital receipt and to reduce the current revenue liabilities at the site.
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Background papers
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None |
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Wards affected |
Lancaster South |
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Cabinet member(s) |
Cllr Fredericks, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Peoples’ Services |
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Contact Officer |
Nicky Debbage, Housing Strategy & Delivery Manager, nicky.debbage@north-norfolk.gov.uk |
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Links to key documents:
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Corporate Plan: |
Meeting our Housing Need. |
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Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) |
New affordable homes will help the council tackle housing need and potentially reduce the cost of temporary accommodation for homeless households the Council has a duty to accommodate |
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Council Policies & Strategies |
NNDC Housing Strategy 2021-2025 |
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Corporate Governance:
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Is this a key decision |
Yes |
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Has the public interest test been applied |
Appendix A is exempt as it contains commercial information that may prejudice future asset sales |
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Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter |
NA |
Please note that there is an exempt appendix to this item, which will follow shortly
Decision:
Decision
RESOLVED
- To agree that Highfield Road is surplus to requirements
- That NNDC enter into an option agreement with Flagship Housing (subject to Planning Permission) for sale of the Highfield Road car park to be developed for affordable housing.
- That demolition of the existing toilet block on the site is undertaken as soon as is possible
Reason for the decision:
The development of the Highfield Car park offers the opportunity to make better use of an under-used car park, to deliver badly needed affordable homes, to generate a capital receipt and to reduce the current revenue liabilities at the site.
Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder for Housing, Cllr W Fredericks, introduced this item. He explained that the report set out a proposal to dispose of the NNDC owned car park at Highfield Road, Fakenham to Flagship Housing for the development of affordable homes. She welcomed the support of local members.
Cllr L Vickers, member for Lancaster South, sought reassurance that the affordable homes that would be built would be restricted to people who had a link with Fakenham or the surrounding villages. Cllr Fredericks replied that affordable housing was allocated on the basis of greatest need across the District. She added that there were other housing schemes underway in Fakenham and these included affordable housing, so there would be more homes available than just those on the Highfield Road site.
Cllr C Cushing sought further clarification regarding the actual area that was being sold and whether the residential parking to the side of the plot included any spaces for public use. He said it would be helpful for members to have a map of the site.
The Housing Strategy & Delivery Manager confirmed that the area to the left of the car park, to the rear of Church Lane, was excluded from sale.
Cllr Cushing how quickly the sale would proceed. Cllr Fredericks replied that the sale process would be very quick but that the development of the site could be held up by nutrient neutrality. The Housing Strategy & Delivery Manager added that the toilet block on the site would be demolished as soon as possible to limit any vandalism and then a legal agreement would be entered into with Flagship Housing based on an option to purchase subject to planning permission. Although nutrient neutrality (NN) could impact on the construction of the housing, it was hoped that the challenges presented by NN were close to being resolved.
Cllr Cushing referred to the demolition of the toilet block and whether there was a risk that the sale could proceed but the site would be empty for a considerable length of time. He asked whether the car park would close once the site was sold. The Chairman confirmed that this was the intention but that access for residents’ parking would continue. Cllr Cushing asked for more detail around the reasons for closing the toilets. He said that he wasn’t aware of any anti-social behaviour on the site at all. The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Cllr Shires, replied that once the decision had been taken to dispose of the site, the facilities on there would no longer belong to the Council and there was a requirement to clear the area. Cllr Cushing expressed concern that the site may remain empty for a considerable time and this may cause alarm with residents. He then sought confirmation regarding the price that Flagship was paying. The Housing Strategy & Delivery Manager confirmed that the price offered by Flagship was indicative and the value of the land would be determined by planning permission and the number of units that ... view the full minutes text for item 27