Agenda item

To consider the joint report of the Director of City Development and the Director of Environment and Housing providing an update on the Council’s activities to deliver new housing on previously developed land in its ownership, as a contribution towards the delivery of the Best City ambition for Leeds.  In addition, the report includes a progress update on the first year of the Brownfield Land Programme and sets out proposals for how the next phases of this work could be taken forward.  The report also sets out the opportunity for the city to access significant funding to support affordable housing delivery.

Further to Minute No. 153, 9^th January 2013, the Director of City Development and the Director of Environment and Housing submitted a joint report providing an update on the Council’s activities to deliver new housing on previously developed land in its ownership, as a contribution towards the delivery of the Best City ambition for Leeds. In addition, the report included a progress update on the first year of the Brownfield Land Programme and set out proposals for how the next phases of this work could be taken forward. Finally, the report presented the opportunity for the city to access significant funding to support affordable housing delivery.

Responding to Members’ comments and concerns, the Council’s commitment to the release and prioritisation of brownfield sites over greenfield sites was emphasised. Furthermore, the Board received an update on the actions being taken to encourage the development of those brownfield sites within the Council’s ownership which were located throughout the city, so that the nature of such developments met the specific need of the local community. Members noted that such actions included proactive discussions with developers, whilst the Board considered what further actions could be taken to ensure that the development of those brownfield sites was successfully achieved.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the progress made to date in bringing the Council’s brownfield land forward for development through the Housing Investment Land Strategy be noted, together with the progress made on the first phase of due diligence and disposals process under the Brownfield Land Programme, as set out within paragraphs 3.8 – 3.19 of the submitted report.

(b)  That the proposed packaging and phasing of disposals under the

Brownfield Land Programme over the remainder of 2013/14 and 2014/15, to be taken forward by the Chief Asset Management & Regeneration Officer, as set out in paragraphs 3.21 – 3.26 of the submitted report, be supported.

(c)   That approval be given for the Chief Asset Management and Regeneration Officer, on behalf of the Director of Environment and Housing, to further develop the Council Housing Growth Programme in order to include a proposal for a package of investment through that would enable the development of exemplar energy efficient housing, alongside the potential for differential rent levels, as set out within paragraphs 3.27 – 3.29 of the submitted report, and that a further report on this subject be submitted to a future meeting of Executive Board.

(d)   That the Chief Asset Management and Regeneration Officer be requested to report back to the March 2014 meeting of Executive Board with details of sites proposed for allocation to the 2015-18 Affordable Housing Programme for the purposes of maximising grant and investment to the city, as set out within paragraphs 3.30 – 3.36 of the submitted report.

(e)   That support be given to the proposal that the Chief Asset Management & Regeneration Officer uses the Homes & Communities Agency’s Development Partner Panel to procure a small number of developer interests to work with the Council from 2014/15 in delivering the Brownfield Land Programme, as set out within paragraphs 3.38 – 3.44 of the submitted report.