At Cabinet on 26 November 2020 the decision was taken on how the council will progress the delivery of affordable housing across the county over the coming years.  In the past few months Engie Regeneration Limited (Engie) have concluded a review of the Station Approach area to consider how development in this part of the city centre should be brought forward. The final report.  The Station Approach Site Study - has been presented to Cabinet for consideration.

This paper seeks approval for the first council owned sites in the Station Approach area to be brought forward as the first scheme of wider affordable housing programme.

That:

Cabinet approve to spend up to £68k to work up outline proposals for a net zero carbon affordable housing scheme on Sites 1b, 1c, 2a and 2b Station Approach for further review and approval by Cabinet.

1.         The council could simply place the sites at Station Approach on the open market and encourage existing house builders or housing providers to bring forward a residential scheme. However, the council would lose control over the scale, type and timing of such a development and it would not contribute to the wider council objective for the delivery of affordable housing or contribute towards the climate change agenda.