The Executive Director (Development) has submitted a report to seek approval to proceed to the detailed design phase of the Blackbird Leys Estate Regeneration project and allocate funds associated with the detailed design and planning, as well as delivery.

Recommendations: That Cabinet resolves to:

1.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director Development to sign off the Pre-Planning Viability Condition and all other Stage One requirements of the Development Agreement detailed in this report, and confirm the project can move past Gateway One and into Stage Two (detailed design & planning submission) of the Development Agreement;

2.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Leisure & Housing and the Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing, to approve moving through the remaining Gateways of the Development Agreement and subsequently entering into a lease for the land with Catalyst Housing Limited, subject to the approved budget;

3.    Note that the Development Agreement sets out that if the scheme does not move forward to delivery, that the Council will incur 50% of the Stage 2 costs, an estimate of which is set out in the report. (paragraph 73);

4.    Approve the use the CIL receipts generated to facilitate the delivery of the community and infrastructure works set out in the concept plan and to recommend to Full Council that this commitment is recognised in the Capital Programme in 2022/23 and beyond as a potential future earmarked CIL receipt (for investment in strategic infrastructure and community facilities at Blackbird Leys) and subject to planning;

5.    Recommend to  Council to allocate a budget of up to £21.528 million to deliver the scheme for new affordable and market housing, community and retail facilities and new and enhanced public space (paragraphs 11-19) and in line with the funding sources and viability assessment set out in this report. (paragraphs 57 – 62);

6.    Recommend to  Council to allocate the HRA and General Fund spend in accordance with the profile set out in the report.(paragraphs 63-64) and which will supersede any current budget held for this project; and

7.    Commit to the fullest ongoing engagement with the local community as part of the detailed design and planning stage and prior to submission of the planning application.

The Executive Director (Development) had submitted a report to seek approval to proceed to the detailed design phase of the Blackbird Leys Estate Regeneration project and allocate funds associated with the detailed design and planning, as well as delivery.

Councillor Mike Rowley, Cabinet Member for Housing, said the report represented a  key stage in this important development and sought, among other things, to secure the necessary funding for the next phase. The scheme would provide an additional 275 new homes (50% of which will be available for social rent), a Community Centre and  new retail units. The project had taken some time to get to this point because of its scale and complexity. There had been recent initial consultation events with the local community and more would follow.

Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Housing, emphasised the indicative nature of the plans at  this stage. A formal planning application would not be made until the end of the year. She encouraged local residents to get involved via the consultation events.

Andrew Humpherson, Regeneration Manager, said the two recent consultation events had been well attended. Feedback from them had been broadly positive with few negative comments. The next round of consultation events would be local ‘pop up’ events to encourage more people to attend.

The Chair thanked all those involved in this significant piece of work. She further emphasised the importance of this consultative phase; the views of local people were central to achieving the best possible outcome for local residents.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.         Delegate authority to the Executive Director Development to sign off the Pre-Planning Viability Condition and all other Stage One requirements of the Development Agreement detailed in this report, and confirm the project can move past Gateway One and into Stage Two (detailed design & planning submission) of the Development Agreement;

2.         Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Leisure & Housing and the Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing, to approve moving through the remaining Gateways of the Development Agreement and subsequently entering into a lease for the land with Catalyst Housing Limited, subject to the approved budget;

3.         Note that the Development Agreement sets out that if the scheme does not move forward to delivery, that the Council will incur 50% of the Stage 2 costs, an estimate of which is set out in the report. (paragraph 73);

4.         Approve the use the CIL receipts generated to facilitate the delivery of the community and infrastructure works set out in the concept plan and to recommend to Full Council that this commitment is recognised in the Capital Programme in 2022/23 and beyond as a potential future earmarked CIL receipt (for investment in strategic infrastructure and community facilities at Blackbird Leys) and subject to planning;

5.         Recommend to  Council to allocate a budget of up to £21.528 million to deliver the scheme for new affordable and market housing, community and retail facilities and new and enhanced public space (paragraphs 11-19) and in line with the funding sources and viability assessment set out in this report. (paragraphs 57 – 62);

6.         Recommend to  Council to allocate the HRA and General Fund spend in accordance with the profile set out in the report.(paragraphs 63-64) and which will supersede any current budget held for this project; and

7.         Commit to the fullest ongoing engagement with the local community as part of the detailed design and planning stage and prior to submission of the planning application.