Issue - meetings

To approve of the compulsory purchase order strategy for the Ledbury Estate Regeneration.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the current position in relation to the delivery of new homes at Phase 2 of the Ledbury Estate Renewal Scheme be noted as follows:

(i)  A constructioncontract with Higgins Partnerships Ltd to deliver bothPhase 1 and Phase 2of the Estate Redevelopment, along with the required budgets todeliver the Ledbury Estate Renewal scheme was agreedby cabinet in December2021 and March 2023 respectively.

(ii)  A planning application (22/AP/0554)for the redevelopment of both phases of the site, providing 80 homes on the first phase and 260 homes on the second phase was approved in December 2022.

(iii)  The council has already acquired 19 leasehold interests across the 4 Ledburytowers. 6 of these were in Bromyard House which facilitated successful vacant possession for Phase 1.

(iv)  On Phase 1, vacant possession was achieved on 25 July 2022 with a formal start on site date of 4 December 2023.

(v)  On Phase 2, there are currently 15 leasehold interests across the three remaining towers of Peterchurch House, Skenfrith House and Sarnesfield House (hereafter “the three towers”).

(vi)  The council is pursuinga negotiated settlement with all leaseholders situatedwithin the three remaining towers, with the intention to acquire these remaininginterests byagreement without the needfor the council to apply to use its compulsory purchase powers.

(vii)  The council may need to use its compulsory purchase powers to acquire outstanding land and interests in the absence of a negotiated settlement to acquire such interests.

(viii)  The councilis offering to rehouseall residentleaseholders who want to stay onthe rebuilt Ledbury Estate, ina new leaseholdhome on either an outright purchase or shared equityloan basis (subject to financialassessment), in compliance with thepolicies outlined in the Ledbury resident offer document.

(ix)  Phase 1 is currently anticipated to complete in June of 2026.

2.  That a further report be prepared and submitted to cabinet at a later date (if required) seeking cabinet’s formal resolution to make a compulsory purchase order (CPO).

3.  That the ongoing efforts to rehome residentsfrom the three towers, based on a critical health and safety risks, as detailed in the July 2024 Rehoming Notice section below. The following be agreed in principle:

(i)  To use its compulsorypurchase powers under Section 226(1)(a) of theTown and Country Planning Act 1990 (“the 1990 Act”) and section13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act1976 for theacquisition of all land and interests(which arenot alreadyowned bythe council) withinthe areaof landshown foridentification purposesedged blackand boldon theplan inAppendix 1 of the report,for thepurposes offacilitating theredevelopment, developmentand improvementof theland andsecuring thedelivery of 340new homeson thesite inline withthe planningapplication forPhase 2(“the Scheme”)thereby securingthe continuedredevelopment ofthe LedburyEstate, inline withthe original planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14