Decision details

Decision details

Purchase of completed development sites at Elsfield Hall, Cumberlege Close and Between Towns Road

Decision Maker: Executive Director (Communities and People)

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Delegated authority to the Assistant Chief Executive to approve the sale of sites as set out in the OCHL business plan to OCHL providing that such sales comply with the mechanism set out in paragraph 31 of the report to Cabinet on 29 May 2019 and s123 of the Local Government Act 1972, and are made on the basis that following development all affordable housing units at the sites would be purchased back by the Council through the Housing Revenue Account. Delegated authority to the Assistant Chief Executive in consultation with the Head of Finance and the Head of Law and Governance to approve and facilitate the agreed purchase by the Housing Revenue Account of all affordable housing units at the OHCL development sites. The sites include the following locations:

  • Land at Elsfield Hall
  • Former 2-16 Cumberlege Close 
  • Land at the Former Murco Petrol Filling Station on Between Towns Road
  • Bracegirdle, Mortimer and Broadoak
  •  Edgecombe Road 
  • Harts Close 
  • Underhill Circus 
  • Warren Crescent 
  • Land at the Oval and Carole’s Way, Rose Hill
  • Former Lucy Faithfull House site at 8 Speedwell Street

Decision:

To authorise the transfer by purchase of the land and affordable housing at Elsfield Hall, Cumberledge Close and Between Towns Road from Oxford City Housing (Development) Limited to the Council’s Housing Revenue Account for a consideration of £25,430,800 in total.

Reasons for the decision:

To support the delivery of affordable housing. The sites at Cumberlege Close and Elsfield Hall are joint in terms of planning and viability.

The viability appraisals undertaken show that the schemes are within the parameters set for the Housing Revenue Account.

The purchases are supported by £1.52m and £1.46m of Oxfordshire Growth Deal Affordable Housing grant and £722,000 and £320,000 of Section 106 top-up grant.

Alternative options considered:

Not to transfer the properties would represent a missed opportunity to deliver affordable housing and support the delivery of the OCHL business plan.

Signed off by senior officers:

Decision taken by Stephen Gabriel, Executive Director (Communities and People) in consultation with Nigel Kennedy, Head of Financial Services and Susan Sale, Head of Law and Governance.

Publication date: 19/04/2022

Date of decision: 13/04/2022

Effective from: 22/04/2022

Accompanying Documents: