Local democracy

Decision details

TRANSPARENCY AND COMPETENCE

Decision Maker: Council

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decision:

Resolved –

 

Council notes that:

·         The former Ferniehurst School site in Baildon was developed as part of Bradford Council’s Affordable Housing programme.

·         The Affordable Housing programme has delivered more affordable housing for the people of this district than would have been the case if the Council had handed it over to a private developer for delivery.

·         Bradford Council choosing to develop its own land for housing on the former Ferniehurst School site in Baildon, rather than selling it to a private developer, meant that the Council was able to help unlock overall funding of £1,929,000 from Homes England to help deliver affordable housing.

·         The Ferniehurst School site proposals put to the public and the Regulatory and Appeals Committee were for “mixed tenure” - 72 houses.  Of these 20 were to be for social housing with day to day management delegated to a social housing provider (planning application 15/01549/MAF).

·         An experienced private sector housing estate agent was engaged to value and market the properties but despite initial interest insufficient numbers were sold, in part due to a general slowdown in the housing market.

·         Therefore additional funding was secured from Homes England to convert some of the properties to rental, all of which are now occupied. This funding provided greater certainty to the scheme and secured a higher grant rate, and delivered immediate rental income.

·         The Council has an agreed Allocations Policy which is administered by the housing management agent (currently Incommunities) in consultation with Housing Options and based on housing need. Working with Incommunities the properties in Baildon were let in accordance with the Council’s allocations policy and those with highest housing need were allocated the properties. The allocations system takes into account the applicant’s preferences and it is likely that many of the tenants will have had a prior connection to the Baildon area.

·         The Council arranged regular security patrols to minimise the impact of vandalism on vacant units while they were being switched to affordable rent.

·         A lessons learned exercise on the Affordable Housing programme, which includes this site, was conducted in 2018 with input and advice from Local Partnerships, a joint venture owned by HM Treasury and the Local Government Association to help share best practice between all levels of government. This has been referenced in Scrutiny reports.

 Council resolves to:

  • Ensure local councillors are kept up to date on the progress of housing schemes with Council involvement being delivered in their wards.

·         Continue with our ambition to deliver affordable housing on brownfield sites in line with our recently adopted Housing Strategy, ‘A Place to Call Home, A Place to Thrive’.

 

ACTION:       Strategic Director Place

Publication date: 14/01/2020

Date of decision: 14/01/2020

Decided at meeting: 14/01/2020 - Council