Issue - meetings

To approve the Compulsory Purchase Order strategy for the Ledbury Estate Regeneration.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the following be noted:

  i.  The current position in relation to the delivery of new homes at Phase 2 of the Ledbury Estate Renewal Scheme.

  ii.  A construction contract with Higgins Partnerships Ltd to deliver both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Estate Redevelopment, along with the required budgets to deliver the Ledbury Estate Renewal Scheme was agreed by cabinet in December 2021 and March 2023 respectively.

  iii.  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.

  iv.  The council has already acquired 19 leasehold interests across the 4 Ledbury towers. 6 of these were in Bromyard House which facilitated successful vacant possession for Phase 1.

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

  vi.  On Phase 2, there are currently 14 leasehold interests across the three remaining towers of Peterchurch House, Skenfrith House and Sarnesfield House (hereafter “the three towers”).

  vii.  The council continues to pursue a negotiated settlement with all leaseholders situated within the three remaining towers, with the intention to acquire these remaining interests by agreement without the need for the council to apply to use its compulsory purchase powers.

  viii.  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.

  ix.  The council is offering to rehouse all resident leaseholders who want to stay on the rebuilt Ledbury Estate, in a new leasehold home on either an outright purchase or shared equity loan basis (subject to financial assessment), in compliance with the policies outlined in the Ledbury Resident Offer document.

  x.  Phase 1 is currently anticipated to complete in June of 2026.

  xi.  That this paper is an update to a paper brought to cabinet in December 2024 which sought in-principal approval to make and

confirm a CPO (see background papers).

  xii.  The ongoing efforts to rehouse residents from the three towers, based on critical health and safety risks, as detailed in the July 2024 Rehoming Notice section below.

2.  That the following be agreed:

  i.  To use compulsory purchase powers under Section 226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (“the 1990 Act”) and section 13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 for the acquisition of all land and interests (which are not already owned by the council) within the area of land shown for identification purposes edged black and bold on the plan in Appendix 1, for the purposes of facilitating the redevelopment, development and improvement of the land and securing the delivery of 260 new homes on the site in line with the planning application for Phase 2 (“the Scheme”) thereby securing the continued redevelopment of the Ledbury Estate, in line with the original planning consent (22/AP/0554) and associated minor material  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15