Issue - meetings

The purpose of this report is to seek approval for a budget to be allocated for the appointment of a professional team and build contractor in compliance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules, to enable the redevelopment of land adjacent to 85 Aarons Hill, Godalming and adjacent to 13 Ryle Road in Farnham, to provide 6 new affordable homes. 

Recommendation

That the Executive recommends to Council that it approves the allocation of funding from the New Affordable Housing Reserve, as set out in (Exempt) Annexe 1 for the development of land adjacent to 85 Aarons Hill, Godalming and 13 Ryle Road, Farnham.

52.1   Cllr King, Portfolio Holder for Housing, explained that the Council had previously obtained Government funding to deliver Starter Homes on the sites in Godalming and Farnham. There had been a delay in the publication of Starter Homes regulations, and Homes England had allowed the funding to be used by the Council to delivery affordable rented housing on an alternative site.

52.2   It was now proposed to develop the sites to provide 4 one-bedroom flats at Aarons Hill and two one-bedroom flats at Ryle Road, with one being designed for a wheelchair user. A planning application had been submitted for each site and decisions were awaited.

52.3   The development of these sites was an excellent use of the land and the proposals would provide one-bedroom flats for which there was a high demand on the Council’s housing register.

52.4   The Executive RESOLVED to

RECOMMEND to Council that approves the allocation of funding from the New Affordable Housing Reserve, as set out in (Exempt) Annexe 1 of the report, for the development of land adjacent to 85 Aarons Hill, Godalming and 13 Ryle Road, Farnham.

[Reason: to enable the Council to progress the development of land to provide affordable homes for rent.]