To approve the scope and cost of the first stage of appraisal services to be provided by the council’s developer partner, Engie Regeneration, in respect of the project to deliver student accommodation at Station Approach.

The council has entered into an overarching agreement with Engie Regeneration, a developer, for a programme of development and regeneration over the next 10 years and potentially beyond. In accordance with that agreement, the developer partner will be commissioned to develop a project through the mechanism of a “New Project Request” and will progress the project in “Stages”.

Cabinet has identified the provision of student accommodation at a council-owned site at Station Approach as a priority project and on 27 July 2017 resolved to bring the project forward for consideration as part of the development and regeneration programme, subject to the council reaching a successful conclusion on the contract negotiations to enter into the overarching agreement, which was achieved in June 2018.

The New Project Request specifies the council’s initial requirements and its criteria for the development, which can be refined as the project moves forward.

The developer partner has estimated the cost of the Stage 1 appraisal services which include the initial development of the business case and detailed designs for the scheme. These costs are required to be underwritten by the council as specified in the overarching agreement.