Agenda item - Major Projects Update

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

Resolved: That the Committee noted the report

58.1    Officers updated that Committee on Major Projects in the city highlighting that work had commenced on the Preston Barracks site and that the Hyde Housing/ Brighton & Hove City Council Limited Liability Partnership Board had had its first meeting.

58.2    Councillor Mac Cafferty asked what had caused the delay was to work at New England House. The site had been identified as a key [art of the City Deal which had been agreed in 2014. 

58.3    The Executive Director, Economy, Environment and Housing responded that the key change since the City Deal had been signed was that the council was now looking at developing New England House along with the adjacent piece of land. This was progressing and the Strategic Delivery Board had been updated and a proposal would be going to Policy, Resources and Growth Committee. The adjacent land was currently used as workshops. The Executive Director stated that nearly 1000 people worked at New England House and that the council understood what an important asset it was to the city; there was no intention to demolish the building but it needed a lot of work.

58.4    In response to Councillor Mac Cafferty, Officers stated that while negotiations for the land acquisition for the waterfront development had gone on for some time they were hopeful of being able to bring forward the conditional land acquisition shortly.

58.5    In response to Councillor Peltzer Dunn, Officers stated that ‘a period’ generally referred to the time between reports to the Committee. Officers stated that way major project updates were reported to the Committee was evolving and this may include more detailed timelines.

58.6    Councillor Nemeth asked officers to clarify who the partner for the King Alfred development was and why the project completion date had come forward.

58.7    The Executive Director, Economy, Environment and Culture responded that the bid was a partnership between Crest Nicholson and the Starr Trust but the development contract would be with Crest Nicholson. Officers stated that they believed that expected completion date had been moved forward because of greater clarity around the project.

58.8    In response to Councillor Druitt, the Executive Director, Economy, Environment and Culture stated that there would be seven stages in the land deal for the waterfront project with investment taking place in several stages. The Executive Director stated that officers would be able to brief Members outside of Committee and put more of a focus on the development in future major projects updates.

58.9    In response to Councillor O’Quinn, the Executive Director, Economy, Environment and Culture stated that 20% of the homes being built in the Circus Street project would be affordable.

58.10  Resolved: That the Committee noted the report