Report attached.

This Report is part exempt and Appendix A is not available for public inspection as it contains or relates to exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. It is exempt because it refers to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information), and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information

Report Title: Bridge Close – Proposed Making of the Planning Compulsory Purchase Order

Presented by: Councillor Graham Williamson, Cabinet Member for Development and Regeneration

Cabinet:

1. Agreed to the Council making Compulsory Purchase Order(s) (CPO) pursuant to the statutory powers contained in section 226 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), and section 13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous. Provisions) Act 1976 and all other necessary powers to facilitate acquisition of all property and other proprietary

interests on the land, including where appropriate new rights, located within the outline on the CPO Order Plan at Appendix B, for the purpose of securing the comprehensive regeneration of Bridge Close, Romford (“Order Land”).

2. Agreed that the Strategic Director of Place after consultation with the Leader of the Council,the Strategic Director of Resources and Deputy Director of Legal Services be authorised

to;

a) Make the CPO to enable the acquisition of land, interest and rights within the CPO Map of the Order Land as attached to this report at Appendix B;

b) Appoint surveyors, barristers and any other professionals required to promote the CPO and to facilitate the vacant possession of interests located within the CPO Order Plan;

c) Settle the final form and content of the CPO and associated documentation to include the:

 Draft Map of the Order Land, see Appendix B

 Draft Schedule Freehold and Leasehold Interests, see Appendix C

 Draft Statement of Reasons, see Appendix D

 Draft Equalities Impact Assessment, see Appendix E

 Draft Statement of Community Involvement, see Appendix F

d) Take all necessary steps to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO, including issuing notices on land owners and stakeholders with a view to obtaining information to facilitate deduction of title under section 16 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, publication and service of CPO notices, addressing any objections to the CPO, presentation of the Council’s case at Public Inquiry, or Court should such representation be necessary and entering into agreements with objectors/stakeholders;

e) Take such actions so as to facilitate Bridge Close LLP acquiring properties and proprietary interests within the CPO Map of the Order Land by agreement, such actions to include; the relocation of businesses, residents and statutory undertakers apparatus or Communication Code Operators; and any other interests and setting out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the CPO; and

f) Amend the number of properties and leasehold acquisitions within the CPO Map of the Order Land at Appendix B and including the extension and revision of the blue line, should such amendments be required to deliver the overall comprehensive regeneration of Bridge Close.

g) Undertake any further actions and matters incidental to progressing the CPO and facilitating the acquisition of the Order Land.

3. Agreed that the Strategic Director of Place after consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Strategic Director of Resources and Deputy Director Legal Services be authorised following the confirmation of the CPO by the Secretary of State to secure vacant possession of all properties and proprietary interests located within the confirmed CPO Blue Line land to include:

a) to take all necessary actions to secure the making and service of a General Vesting Declaration (GVD) or multiple GVD’s under the Compulsory Purchase and (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 and /or to serve Notices to Treat and Entry (if required); and

b) to appropriate to planning / or housing purposes any parcel of land within the CPO Order Plan; and

c) to; transfer, or grant a license over, all properties and proprietary interests acquired pursuant to the CPO to the relevant development or contractor partner; and

d) if necessary, make representation of the Council’s case such as at the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) or court should such representation be necessary.

4. Agreed that in the event that the Cabinet approves recommendations 2 and 3 above, and upon the Deputy Director of Legal Services being satisfied that further information and all the Equalities Impact Assessment recommendations have been considered to not require reference back to Cabinet, that the Deputy Director of Legal Services be authorised to affix the common Seal of the Council to the CPO, GVD(s), maps and elsewhere and to take all steps as necessary, such as to issue notices and sign certificates to attain the resolutions above.

Report Title: Bridge Close – Proposed Making of the Planning Compulsory Purchase Order

Presented by: Councillor Graham Williamson, Cabinet Member for Development and Regeneration

Summary:

1.1     The purpose of this report is to fulfil a recommendation within the Bridge Close Regeneration LLP Business Plan Refresh 2025-26 report approved by Cabinet on the 5?? February 2025.

1.2  That recommendation requested that Cabinet:

“Note that the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Strategic Director of Resources the and the Deputy Director of Legal and Governance, will bring forward a report providing status of the proposed making of the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the Bridge Close

Regeneration scheme at the appropriate time in the financial year 2025-2026.”

1.3   Cabinet also noted that the Council would support Bridge Close Regeneration LLP (BCR LLP) in

the implementation of the land acquisition process as set out in the BCR LLP Land Acquisition

Strategy through the deployment of its CPO powers to enable the acquisition of the land interests

required for the regeneration development scheme and infrastructure which cannot be acquired by private treaty.

1.4   A hybrid planning application with reference P1765.23 was submitted and validated on 29 November 2023 for the redevelopment of land at Bridge Close, Romford (the Scheme), to provide a

high quality mixed-use residential quarter delivered across three phases. On 28?? August 2025,

Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) resolved to grant planning permission for the Scheme.

1.5  This paper is brought to Cabinet setting out details on;

• The proposed CPO within the Order Plan; and

•  Requests that Cabinet approves the making of a CPO and related powers in respect of the land, interests and rights to obtain vacant possession, where necessary, to enable the delivery of the regeneration of Bridge Close where it has not been possible to acquire the land, interests and

rights by agreement. The scheme, which is shown on the CPO Map of the Order Land at Appendix B, provides for the comprehensive regeneration of Bridge Close, Romford, including the following:

i. Up to 1,070 new homes (incl. between 35% and 50% affordable homes subject to viability)

ii. A 3-form entry primary school with nursery and SEND provision

iii. Community and cultural space

iv. Local health facilities

v. Commercial floor space, including affordable work space

vi. Improved east-west links, including a new pedestrian and cycle bridge

vii. Environmental improvements to the River Rom.

Cabinet:

1. Agreed to the Council making Compulsory Purchase Order(s) (CPO) pursuant to the statutory powers contained in section 226 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), and section 13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous. Provisions) Act 1976 and all other necessary powers to facilitate acquisition of all property and other proprietary

interests on the land, including where appropriate new rights, located within the outline on the CPO Order Plan at Appendix B, for the purpose of securing the comprehensive regeneration of Bridge Close, Romford (“Order Land”).

2. Agreed that the Strategic Director of Place after consultation with the Leader of the Council,the Strategic Director of Resources and Deputy Director of Legal Services be authorised

to;

a) Make the CPO to enable the acquisition of land, interest and rights within the CPO Map of the Order Land as attached to this report at Appendix B;

b) Appoint surveyors, barristers and any other professionals required to promote the CPO and to facilitate the vacant possession of interests located within the CPO Order Plan;

c) Settle the final form and content of the CPO and associated documentation to include the:

 Draft Map of the Order Land, see Appendix B

 Draft Schedule Freehold and Leasehold Interests, see Appendix C

 Draft Statement of Reasons, see Appendix D

 Draft Equalities Impact Assessment, see Appendix E

 Draft Statement of Community Involvement, see Appendix F

d) Take all necessary steps to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO, including issuing notices on land owners and stakeholders with a view to obtaining information to facilitate deduction of title under section 16 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, publication and service of CPO notices, addressing any objections to the CPO, presentation of the Council’s case at Public Inquiry, or Court should such representation be necessary and entering into agreements with objectors/stakeholders;

e) Take such actions so as to facilitate Bridge Close LLP acquiring properties and proprietary interests within the CPO Map of the Order Land by agreement, such actions to include; the relocation of businesses, residents and statutory undertakers apparatus or Communication Code Operators; and any other interests and setting out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the CPO; and

f) Amend the number of properties and leasehold acquisitions within the CPO Map of the Order Land at Appendix B and including the extension and revision of the blue line, should such amendments be required to deliver the overall comprehensive regeneration of Bridge Close.

g) Undertake any further actions and matters incidental to progressing the CPO and facilitating the acquisition of the Order Land.

3. Agreed that the Strategic Director of Place after consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Strategic Director of Resources and Deputy Director Legal Services be authorised following the confirmation of the CPO by the Secretary of State to secure vacant possession of all properties and proprietary interests located within the confirmed CPO Blue Line land to include:

a) to take all necessary actions to secure the making and service of a General Vesting Declaration (GVD) or multiple GVD’s under the Compulsory Purchase and (Vesting Declarations) Act 1981 and /or to serve Notices to Treat and Entry (if required); and

b) to appropriate to planning / or housing purposes any parcel of land within the CPO Order Plan; and

c) to; transfer, or grant a license over, all properties and proprietary interests acquired pursuant to the CPO to the relevant development or contractor partner; and

d) if necessary, make representation of the Council’s case such as at the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) or court should such representation be necessary.

4. Agreed that in the event that the Cabinet approves recommendations 2 and 3 above, and upon the Deputy Director of Legal Services being satisfied that further information and all the Equalities Impact Assessment recommendations have been considered to not require reference back to Cabinet, that the Deputy Director of Legal Services be authorised to affix the common Seal of the Council to the CPO, GVD(s), maps and elsewhere and to take all steps as necessary, such as to issue notices and sign certificates to attain the resolutions above.