Issue - meetings

Obtain approval to progress to the next governance stage of the Central Godalming Regeneration Project. This project was formerly known as The Burys Development Project[1] but it has been renamed to reflect the size and multi-site nature of the scheme and its strategic importance to central Godalming and town centre housing.

Authorise funds to progress the project through to planning pre-application stage and assessments of detailed viability and delivery options.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive:

      i.        Agree to change the name of the Burys Development Project to the Central Godalming Regeneration Project

    ii.        Recommends to Council to approve a supplementary estimate of £164,000 to progress the project to the next phase (3), including preliminary public engagement, to be funded from the Property Investment reserve.

   iii.        Note that phase 3 of the scheme will progress to a formal planning pre-application submission  that, subject to the outcome of the engagement process, may include the following elements:

-       A residential scheme and public car parking at Crown Court Car Park to bring much needed housing into the centre of Godalming

-       A retrofit of The Burys for office working space to reflect new ways of working, and increased car parking provision at The Burys site to allow for loss of car parking at Crown Court Car Park

-       A residential and/or car parking scheme at the Wharf Car Park on Woolsack Way

RESOLVED that

     i.        the name of the Burys Development Project be changed to the Central Godalming Regeneration Project;

    ii.        Council be recommended to approve a supplementary estimate of £164,000 to progress the project to the next phase (3), including preliminary public engagement, to be funded from the Property Investment reserve; and

 iii       it be noted that phase 3 of the scheme will progress to a formal planning pre-application submission  that, subject to the outcome of the engagement process, may include the following elements:

-       A residential scheme and public car parking at Crown Court Car Park to bring much needed housing into the centre of Godalming

-       A retrofit of The Burys for office working space to reflect new ways of working, and increased car parking provision at The Burys site to allow for loss of car parking at Crown Court Car Park

-       A residential and/or car parking scheme at the Wharf Car Park on Woolsack Way

Reason:

The project offers an opportunity for regeneration of three Council owned sites within the Central Godalming area.   The project proposes to bring underutilised elements of the sites forward to generate much needed town centre housing, improve the access of the Council offices at Bridge Street and ensure the office space is utilised to the maximum in a period of hybrid working.  These elements will in turn benefit the town centre and bring footfall to local businesses, therefore bringing forward an opportunity for all three sites to be part of a regeneration project and thus the new name for the project.

To respond to the Phase 2 findings that demonstrates that viable schemes are possible on the nominated 3 sites whilst understanding that more detail is required to move them forward. 

The Council offices at the Burys in Godalming are unfit for purpose: they have been expensive to heat and maintain, due to the building’s low energy efficiency, for many years and they are excess to the Council’s post-Covid requirements. Absent this project, Waverley will have to spend a significant amount of scarce revenue funding to operate, repair and maintain the current building over the coming years.  It is an extremely inefficient building in layout and energy use accounting for 10% of Waverley buildings carbon output, and work is required to rectify this to meet our Climate Emergency objectives.  The current layout does not allow for the decreased numbers of staff working in the building due to the implementation of hybrid working and the new Agile Working Policy. 

Phase 3 will allow the Council to fully understand the potential for the delivery of much needed housing in Godalming and to engage with the local economy in Godalming.

By completing the pre-application stage, it will give the Council an understanding of whether the project deliverables can be met and to help to understand in detail any future planning risks, whilst bringing forward solutions to mitigate those risks.

[This matter is recommended to Council for decision and is not subject to the call-in procedure.]  ...  view the full decision text for item 17

Councillor Merryweather presented the report which set out proposals to progress to Phase 3 of the Burys Development Project.  Phase 1 had identified concepts and established metrics against which they could be measured.  14 broad concepts had been identified and three had been shortlisted to progress to the Phase 2 studies which had looked at viability and deliverability.  The Phase 3 studies which would involve community engagement and further detailed analysis.  He thanked officers for their work and welcomed the engagement of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the all Councillor briefing and Godalming Town Council.

The Leader also welcomed the engagement with Godalming Town Council and reminded the Executive that inaction was not an option.

RESOLVED that

     i.        the name of the Burys Development Project be changed to the Central Godalming Regeneration Project;

    ii.        Council be recommended to approve a supplementary estimate of £164,000 to progress the project to the next phase (3), including preliminary public engagement, to be funded from the Property Investment reserve; and

 iii       it be noted that phase 3 of the scheme will progress to a formal planning pre-application submission  that, subject to the outcome of the engagement process, may include the following elements:

-       A residential scheme and public car parking at Crown Court Car Park to bring much needed housing into the centre of Godalming

-       A retrofit of The Burys for office working space to reflect new ways of working, and increased car parking provision at The Burys site to allow for loss of car parking at Crown Court Car Park

-       A residential and/or car parking scheme at the Wharf Car Park on Woolsack Way

Reason:

The project offers an opportunity for regeneration of three Council owned sites within the Central Godalming area.   The project proposes to bring underutilised elements of the sites forward to generate much needed town centre housing, improve the access of the Council offices at Bridge Street and ensure the office space is utilised to the maximum in a period of hybrid working.  These elements will in turn benefit the town centre and bring footfall to local businesses, therefore bringing forward an opportunity for all three sites to be part of a regeneration project and thus the new name for the project.

To respond to the Phase 2 findings that demonstrates that viable schemes are possible on the nominated 3 sites whilst understanding that more detail is required to move them forward. 

The Council offices at the Burys in Godalming are unfit for purpose: they have been expensive to heat and maintain, due to the building’s low energy efficiency, for many years and they are excess to the Council’s post-Covid requirements. Absent this project, Waverley will have to spend a significant amount of scarce revenue funding to operate, repair and maintain the current building over the coming years.  It is an extremely inefficient building in layout and energy use accounting for 10% of Waverley buildings carbon output, and work is required to rectify this to meet our Climate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17