Agenda item

Summary:                      This is an update to a report previously presented to

Cabinet on the 30^th March 2020, which identifies opportunities that would see the regeneration of a heritage building, known as The Cedars, and adjoining land.  The proposal would require the Council to withdraw from a previously expressed intention dated November 2014 to dispose of the asset and move forward with a proposal for the main building to be refurbished and retained by the Council for letting and consideration of options for the remainder of the site. 

Options considered:       A range of options and uses have been considered and a feasibility study recently produced which makes recommendations for future uses. The alternative option is to continue with the previously agreed decision to dispose, however this would lead to a further long period in which the building remains vacant, at risk and deteriorating; it would also lead to the loss of grant support for the building’s restoration.

Conclusions:                   The property has stood empty since 2016 whilst the sale of the property was under negotiation. During this time there has been considerable officer resource needed in managing the vacant property and budget required to hold it, without the property providing any benefit to the local community or wider district.   

The prospective purchaser has in the period since November 2014 been unable/unwilling to commit to the acquisition of the property.  In more recent times officers have explored alternative options and have succeeded in securing grant support for the building’s restoration and conversion. Beneficial alternative options are now open to the Council following the completion of a feasibility study. 

In evaluating the options and the inability of the prospective purchaser to complete, it is recommended that the disposal is not pursued; rather that the premises be refurbished and offered to let on the basis of a commercial rent either to community uses or to the private sector or a combination of both. The land and ancillary buildings offer some potential for development/conversion and it is recommended that options for its alternative use and possible disposal be further investigated. In both cases this would now represent best value and would support the objectives of the Corporate Plan, Asset Management Plan and furthermore would meet the criteria as stated in the Council’s Disposal Policy.

•        Boosting Business Sustainability and Growth within North Walsham and surrounding areas (as part of the overall HSHAZ town centre improvement project).

•        Financial Sustainability - by utilising grant funding to invest in the restoration of the building and reducing the Council’s financial liabilities, revenue costs of holding the vacant, at risk, property, as well as providing both revenue income and a potential future receipt.

LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS AS REQUIRED BY LAW

(Papers relied on to write the report, which do not contain exempt information and which are not published elsewhere)

DECISION

Resolved:

Cllr E Seward, Portfolio Holder for Assets, introduced this item. He began by saying that the proposal would require the Council to withdraw from a previously expressed intention dated November 2014 to dispose of the asset and move forward with a proposal for the main building to be refurbished and retained by the Council for letting and consideration of options for the remainder of the site. He explained that the initial decision to sell the site in June 2014, arose out of an unsolicited offer from a pub and restaurant chain. No progress had been made since then, despite repeated attempts by the Council. he said that there was no prospect of developing a pub or restaurant before 2023/24 due to the impact of the pandemic on the hospitality industry. He then said that as a local member, residents had indicated strongly to him that they wanted to see such an historic building brought back into use. Cllr Seward concluded by saying that investment from the Heritage Action Zone project in North Walsham was making the town centre a good place to do business and it wasn’t viable to have a derelict building on such a prominent site. Grants from Historic England meant that it was now financially viable to bring it back into use. The building would remain under NNDC control and would be back in use by late 2022. The Council would look to sell the remainder of the site to maximise financial return.

Cllr V Gay seconded the proposal and said that she strongly endorsed Cllr Seward’s comments.

Cllr J Rest referred to page 69, section 9.2 of the report and said that he was pleased to see the current costs clearly listed.

Cllr V Holliday asked whether there was a pipeline of community groups wanting to use the renovated space. The Leader, Cllr Butikofer, confirmed that the Council had already received several enquiries from interested parties, including community groups.

Cllr C Cushing endorsed Cllr Seward’s comments and asked whether consideration had been given to selling the whole site. Cllr Seward confirmed that this option was explored but now that it was financially viable to restore it, this was considered to be the better option. He explained that the building had been left to the Council by the Smith family. He believed that the property could play a role as a public venue and with the support of the Historic England funding, there was now the option of NNDC retaining ownership.

Cllr L Shires referred to the pathway that ran across the site and asked what would happen to this. Cllr Seward replied that it was not a public right of way but it had been in use for over 20 years so consideration would be given to either retaining it in its current position or moving it slightly.

It was proposed by Cllr E Seward, seconded by Cllr V Gay and

DECISION

Resolved: