Homes proposals could develop jobs and protect services

Cambridgeshire County Council is set to discuss proposals to take the first step in the authority becoming a property developer, using its own land to get the best value for tax payers.

Plans to use Council land to deliver much needed housing, including affordable homes, as well as significant long term income to protect frontline services, is due to be debated.

The Council announced last year it would be looking at ways of developing its own land with the latest plans including a mix of affordable and private homes.

The report to Cabinet, to be held on Tuesday, January 28, outlines the national shortfall of more than 100,000 new homes annually with a particular problem in providing affordable homes in and around Cambridge.

With housing prices increasing and Cambridge prices reaching levels seen in London it is increasingly difficult for people, such as the key workers, to get suitable housing.

The report suggests there could be favourable and significant financial returns from developing sites which could provide a long term income to help protect frontline Council services.

The construction of new open market rental housing together with affordable homes (shared equity and rental) all built to ‘Lifetime Homes’ standards is a multi million pound investment.

It could boost local businesses and generate jobs in construction together as well as those associated with the management and maintenance of the housing. An increase in the supply of housing for rent will also provide homes for the employees of expanding business in the area

Sites in Burwell and at Worts Causeway, Cambridge are owned by the County Council and are already earmarked for development in the emerging District Councils’ Local Plan processes.

A report to Cabinet, recommends that a full business case be developed for these schemes which would include what the financial benefits would be for the Council.

Cabinet will be asked to declare as surplus both the parcels of land for around 350 homes at Newmarket Road, Burwell and 230 at Worts Causeway, Cambridge.

If recommended for approval the Council will then look at moving forward on gaining planning approval and constructing the  homes.

Cambridgeshire County Councillor Steve Count, Cabinet member for Resources, said: “The Council has to save around £38 million in the coming financial year and £149 million in the next five years. To make these saving we have to look innovatively at how we do things. Last year we signalled our intention to look at developing our own land which would provide not only income but also much needed affordable homes. This is the next step in that process to make sure it is the right thing for us to do.

“We know there is a shortfall on the amount of affordable housing being built. Sadly many young people who have been brought up in Cambridgeshire can’t afford to live here while vital key workers can’t get a home near their job. This scheme has the potential to help bring forward the provision of these homes but also provide a long term income that will help protect frontline services from some of the savings we have to make.”

The land being looked at is:

  • around 20 hectares off Newmarket Road Burwell and allocated by east Cambridgeshire District Council in their draft Local Plan (Policy BUR 1) for the building of around 350 homes.
    A draft Concept Master Plan is being prepared at the request of the Local Plan Inspector and a full planning application could be made in 2014/15.
  • around 8.5 hectares of land off Worts Causeway, Cambridge known as GB2 in the Cambridge Local Plan Proposed Submission 2014 for the building of around 230 homes.
    Presently, most market rental housing is provided by small Buy to Let investors but at Worts Causeway there could be scope to deliver the first large scale provision of high quality  rented homes.

The new affordable housing stock could be managed and maintained by partner authorities or by Registered Social Landlords who already have large portfolios in the area.

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