Agenda item

Cabinet

1.            Approved the submission of a Rainham and Beam Park Housing Zone bid to the Greater London Authority no later than 30 September 2014.

2.            Approved the Economic Development and Regulatory Services initiating work on a Planning Strategy Document to strengthen the Council’s position on planning applications coming forward in the area.

3.            Approved the commencement of work on the feasibility of establishing a Council-owned company to develop private housing for rent and sale with recommendations brought to a future Cabinet meeting for consideration.

4.            Delegated to the Chief Executive after consultation with the Leader of the Council, authority to finalise the bid document.

Councillor Damian White, Cabinet Member for Housing, introduced the report

Cabinet was informed that the report sought approval to submit a bid to the Mayor of London’s Housing Zone Programme.  Havering’s bid would focus on Rainham - primarily the underused industrial land between the A1306 to the north and the railway line to the south referred to as Beam Park - and the surrounding areas of Rainham Village and South Hornchurch.

The Greater London Authority (GLA), acting on the Mayor’s instructions, was seeking bids through a competitive process with a deadline of 30 September 2014.  It was understood that the GLA would be conducting an initial assessment shortly after the closing date and that the borough was likely to be asked to submit further information and/or refine its submission prior to a final decision expected around December 2014 to February 2015.

The Housing Zone Prospectus was launched on the 30 June 2014. Housing Zones will be areas where home building would be accelerated by close partnership working between boroughs, land owners, investors and builders.  They would be a designated part of a borough in which investment could spur on the development of at least 1,000 new homes on brownfield land.  The time taken to get new schemes launched was recognised, but the GLA was clear that development in the Zone should commence within the 2015-18 period.

The Housing Zone programme now offered what was arguably the most significant opportunity in a generation for London boroughs to pro-actively participate to such a large degree in the shaping and development of their neighbourhoods through the development of new housing. 

Designation of the area as a “Housing Zone”, incorporating the approaches being proposed in the report would enhance the Council’s role in balancing the delivery of new housing with the delivery of schools, parks and leisure facilities needed.  In turn, the belief was that “Housing Zone” designation would support appropriate densities to maintain Havering’s green environment and suburban character compared with much of the rest of London.

Reasons for the decision:

The Housing Zone programme would potentially give access to significant investment in Havering.  Not bidding for Housing Zone status would not prevent new housing development coming forward in the south of the borough, but it would significantly reduce the Council’s ability to influence the type, amount and timing of this new provision.

Other options considered:

No bid for Housing Zone status – REJECTED. 

From officer discussions with the GLA, housing associations and developers, it was clear that proposals for new housing were already coming forward for sites in the proposed Rainham and Beam Park Garden Suburb Housing Zone area and additional sites were likely to be marketed soon, including proposals by the GLA itself.  Without a co-ordinated approach - that would result from being awarded Housing Zone status - those sites would come forward in a piecemeal fashion meaning that:

(a) The Council’s ability to influence the overall style and scale of development would be diminished, and

(b) Developers could argue against increased financial contributions to infrastructure and affordable housing on the grounds that their development in isolation had only a minimal impact on the area.

Bid for Housing Zone status for another part of the borough – REJECTED.

The Housing Zone prospectus sought bids relating to brownfield land capable of delivering upwards of 1,000 new homes.  Perhaps the only other part of the borough that could fit this criterion was Romford town centre.  Romford was already the subject of strategic market engagement by the Council which was increasing market interest. Rainham, however, required more significant public sector investment; hence it was a better ‘fit’ for the Housing Zone programme.

Cabinet:

1.            Approved the submission of a Rainham and Beam Park Housing Zone bid to the Greater London Authority no later than 30 September 2014.

2.            Delegated to the Chief Executive, acting after consultation with the Leader of the Council, authority to finalise the bid document.

3.            Approved Economic Development and Regulatory Services initiating work on a Planning Strategy document to strengthen the Council’s position on planning applications coming forward in the area.

4.            Approved the commencement of work on the feasibility of establishing a Council-owned company to develop private housing for rent and sale with recommendations brought to a future Cabinet meeting for consideration.