Agenda item

To approve the Friar Park Urban Village masterplan as amended.

Agreed:--

(1)     That the results of the public consultation undertaken on the Friar Park Redevelopment Project (hereby known as Friar Park Urban Village with this report) during November to December 2022 as set out in the Consultation Report be received.

(2)     That in connection with 1 above, approval be given to the Friar Park Urban Village masterplan as amended.

(3)     That approval be given to the proposed procurement strategy for developer selection, including the use of the Homes England Framework, and that the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth and the Director of Regeneration and Growth be authorised to progress the procurement strategy as proposed in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority.

(4)     That approval be given to the use of the Masterplan in assessing developer bids as part of the agreed procurement process.

(5)     That in light of community concerns arising from the consultation exercise, the Director of Regeneration and Growth be authorised to develop a potential scheme which accommodates the extension of the Millennium Centre, and that the outcome of that work, including the detailed proposals and funding strategy scheme implementation are reported to Cabinet at a future date.

(6)     That the comments made by the Economy, Skills, Transport and Environment Scrutiny Board at their meeting held on 28 February be received.

(7)     That subject to resolutions (1) - (6) above, the Director of Regeneration and Growth, be authorised to ensure that:

(a)     the use of a Local Lettings Policy on the site be explored;

(b)     regular air quality monitoring is undertaken as the development progresses and once it is complete;

(c)     different options to utilise appropriate vegetation to help address air pollution is considered for the site.

Approval was sought to the Friar Park Urban Village masterplan, as amended, and to authorise the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth and the Director of Regeneration and Growth to progress the procurement strategy as proposed in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

The Vice Chair of the Economy, Skills, Transport and Environment Scrutiny Board asked several questions on behalf of the Chair of the Budget and Corporate Scrutiny Management Board.   Clarification was sought regarding possible contingency plans for the potential soaring costs that may be incurred over the course of the project.

In response, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth reported that the WMCA had secured funding which was intended to be used towards the remediation of the site, although the exact details relating to how this funding was utilised was still to be determined.  In addition, further specific details relating to both authority’s expectations of the scheme (such as Building Regulations 2025+), were yet to be determined.  Early consideration of the impacts of specification requirements would be undertaken as discussions progress, allowing for consideration of the need for any additional grant funding and/or any implications for the Council’s land receipt.  The resultant scheme specification would form the basis of bids to be submitted by developers, and the contractual outputs required to be delivered.

Once a developer was appointed to progress the scheme, the responsibility for the management of costs and funding required to undertake it would fall to the developer. 

Part of the rationale for utilisation of the Homes England Framework, which was recommended, was that the financial capability of a developer to undertake a scheme of this nature was tested prior to selection for the Framework.  This would ensure that the selected developer had the appropriate knowledge, experience and financial capability to deliver the scheme as required.

In response to questions around the poor number of respondents to consultation and plans to place Council properties in the site, it was confirmed that a wide range of consultation had taken place including targeted letter drops and a press release.  Response forms were also available both physically and digitally.  Further engagement was planned as the scheme progressed and it was expected that once a developer had been appointed, community consultation on the proposed scheme would be carried out as part of any subsequent planning application.  Regarding Council Housing on the site, the scheme would require a 25% requirement for affordable homes which could be provided in many forms.  No decision had yet been made as to whether such provision on the site would be undertaken directly.  The use of a local lettings policy for this site would also be explored.

Reason for Decision

Sandwell significantly underperformed against the annual

housing delivery target of 1467 new dwellings set out in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA). The 630 units on the Friar Park site would make a significant contribution to those targets although delivery would be over a number of years. A minimum of 25% of the new homes would be affordable in accordance with planning policy.

Alternative Options Considered

Not progressing with the masterplan would not give the surety and design framework to have brought the site forward in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Option 1: Do nothing - this option would signify a continuation of the

status quo and fail to deliver against Sandwell’s housing delivery targets. The site would continue to be underutilised, remain highly contaminated and would not deliver any wider regenerative benefit to Friar Park. 

Option 2: Do not proceed with the masterplan and instead, the Council could look to dispose of the site to a developer without a level of surety. Alternatively, the Council could have chosen to sell their site in isolation.  However, this would fail to deliver a comprehensive regeneration proposal.

Resolved:--

(1)          that the results of the public consultation undertaken on the Friar Park Redevelopment Project during November to December 2022 as set out in the Consultation Report be received;

(2)          that in connection with Resolution (1) above, approval be given to the Friar Park Urban Village masterplan as amended;

(3)          that approval be given to the proposed procurement strategy for developer selection, including the use of the Homes England Framework, and that the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth and the Director of Regeneration and Growth be authorised to progress the procurement strategy as proposed in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority;

(4)          that approval be given to the use of the Masterplan in assessing developer bids as part of the agreed procurement process;

(5)          that in light of community concerns arising from the consultation exercise, the Director of Regeneration and Growth be authorised to develop a potential scheme which accommodates the extension of the Millennium Centre, and that the outcome of that work, including the detailed proposals and funding strategy scheme implementation are reported to Cabinet at a future date;

(6)          that the comments made by the Economy, Skills, Transport and Environment Scrutiny Board at their meeting held on 28 February be received;

(7)     that, the Director of Regeneration and Growth be authorised to ensure that:

(a)    the use of a Local Lettings Policy on the site be explored;

(b)    regular air quality monitoring is undertaken as the development progresses and once it is complete;

(c)    different options to utilise appropriate vegetation to help address air pollution is considered for the site.

(Councillor Hackett left the meeting during consideration of this matter)