Agenda item - Anston House, 137 -147 Preston Road, Brighton- Request to Vary Heads of Terms Section 106 Agreement

(copy attached)

5.1      The report asked the Committee to consider a request to vary the Heads of Terms of the Section 106 agreement dated 30th October 2017 in connection with planning permission BH2016/02499 to allow conversion of the approved development to a Build to Rent development.

          Questions for the Officer

5.2      Councillor Littman was informed by the case officer – Luke Austin (Principal Planning Officer) that the s106 agreement is due to expire on 2 November 2020.

5.3      Councillor Fishleigh was informed that by the case officer that the District Valuer Service (DVS) report was completed in March 2020 before COVID-19 lockdown. To request a new report to reflect post COVID-19 costs would delay the commencement of the development.

5.4      Nicola Hurley (Planning Manager) informed the Committee that there was the review mechanism in the agreement would look at costs.

5.5      Councillor Miller was informed by the case officer that the discrepancies referred to in the report have been now been resolved. The bedroom types have not changed since the original permission was granted the mix of bedrooms to be rented would remain the same across all rents.

5.6      Councillor Theobald was informed by the case officer that 5% of the development would be wheelchair accessible.

          Debate

5.7      Councillor Shanks felt the mix of affordable housing was good and found the scheme acceptable and should be passed by the Committee.

5.8      Councillor Miller felt the affordable housing was important and the committee should agree the application.

5.9      Councillor Yates welcomed the application and hoped it would go ahead as the site has been a blot on the landscape for many decades. Build to rent was considered the best way forward.

5.10    Councillor Theobald felt the building was ugly and the scheme not ideal and the 2016 scheme was better, however the development should go ahead.

5.11    Vote: The Committee voted unanimously agreed to the request to vary the Heads of Terms of Section 106 Agreement in connection with planning permission BH2016/02499.

5.12    Resolved: That the S106 Head of Terms with regard to Affordable Housing be varied in order to allow for a Build to Rent development, as set out in the report.