Decision details

The Director of Prosperity and Development presented the report, which sought Cabinet approval to progress the CCR Housing Viability Gap Fund on Cwm Coking Works to a stage to enable the draw-down of £8 million of available funding.

The Cabinet Member for Development and Prosperity felt that the proposal before Members was a great opportunity for the Council to open a site, which was previously considered unviable as a commercial offering. The Cabinet Member commented that it would remediate a difficult site but would also help towards the Council’s house building targets with a potential of over 600 new homes being constructed.

The Leader emphasised that without the capital investment, the site would not be developed and that it had been subject to an appraisal process as part of the CCR Housing Viability Fund.

The Deputy Leader referred to concerns expressed in respect of biodiversity at the site and questioned if consideration would be given during the process. The Director assured Members that biodiversity would be a key consideration going forward in terms of the remediation of the site and any future housing development.

With the agreement of the Chair, County Borough Councillor R Yeo addressed the Cabinet on this item.

The Cabinet RESOLVED:

1.    To approve and authorise the Agreement between the developer and RCT to enable the draw-down of £8 million of funding from the CCR Housing Investment Fund.