The Director of Economy, Regeneration and Sustainability submitted a report to Cabinet to seek project approval and delegations to enable the continued delivery of more affordable housing at the Redbridge Paddock site.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Give project approval for the development, including the land sale and acquisition of affordable dwellings developed by Oxford City Housing (Development) Ltd (OCH(D)L) for which budgetary provision has been made in the Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) in respect of Redbridge Paddock; 

2.    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive - City and Citizens' Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Head of Law and Governance/Monitoring Officer, to finalise the scheme design and financial appraisals and enter into any necessary agreements and contracts to facilitate the agreed purchase by the Council of the affordable housing (to be held in the HRA) and any associated land, within the identified budget, for the provision of the affordable homes, as set out in this report, on the Redbridge Paddock development, within the project approval;

3.    Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Head of Law and Governance/Monitoring Officer, to approve the final terms, which will be S123 compliant, and enter into the sale agreement for the Redbridge Paddock site from the General Fund to OCH(D)L;

Cabinet resolved to:

1.       Give project approval for the development, including the land sale and acquisition of affordable dwellings developed by Oxford City Housing (Development) Ltd (OCH(D)L) for which budgetary provision has been made in the Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) in respect of Redbridge Paddock; 

2.       Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive - City and Citizens' Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Head of Law and Governance/Monitoring Officer, to finalise the scheme design and financial appraisals and enter into any necessary agreements and contracts to facilitate the agreed purchase by the Council of the affordable housing (to be held in the HRA) and any associated land, within the identified budget, for the provision of the affordable homes, as set out in this report, on the Redbridge Paddock development, within the project approval;

3.       Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Head of Law and Governance/Monitoring Officer, to approve the final terms, which will be S123 compliant, and enter into the sale agreement for the Redbridge Paddock site from the General Fund to OCH(D)L;

The Director of Economy, Regeneration and Sustainability had submitted a report to Cabinet to seek project approval and delegations to enable the continued delivery of more affordable housing at the Redbridge Paddock site.

Councillor Smith presented the report. She said that this and the preceding and following report show the Council’s work to address the housing needs of the city.

Dave Scholes, the Affordable Housing Supply Corporate Lead, said the site had its challenges in development and that there was quite substantial remediation needed. He said that they think they have a viable scheme to do this work. He said that they would bring this to initial planning application later this year and house building would begin in 2029. He said that it would be a mix tenure scheme and the delivery approach would be brought through OX Place.

Councillor Hollingsworth asked why it would take over a year for the reserved matters to be resolved.

The Affordable Housing Supply Corporate Lead said that there were significant restraints around contamination, as well as other challenges. He said that the timeline they’d outlined was a realistic approach to the requirements of the site.

Councillor Brown emphasised that this was a brown field site.

Councillor Chapman asked about the relationship with Homes England in the project.

The Affordable Housing Supply Corporate Lead said that they were working with Homes England and hoped to work with them on the business case from April onwards. He said that if they could secure additional housing beyond the local plan there might be some ability for them to secure additional funding.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.       Give project approval for the development, including the land sale and acquisition of affordable dwellings developed by Oxford City Housing (Development) Ltd (OCH(D)L) for which budgetary provision has been made in the Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) in respect of Redbridge Paddock; 

2.       Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive - City and Citizens' Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Head of Law and Governance/Monitoring Officer, to finalise the scheme design and financial appraisals and enter into any necessary agreements and contracts to facilitate the agreed purchase by the Council of the affordable housing (to be held in the HRA) and any associated land, within the identified budget, for the provision of the affordable homes, as set out in this report, on the Redbridge Paddock development, within the project approval;

3.       Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management; the Head of Financial Services/Section 151 Officer; and the Head of Law and Governance/Monitoring Officer, to approve the final terms, which will be S123 compliant, and enter into the sale agreement for the Redbridge Paddock site from the General Fund to OCH(D)L;