Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Decision made
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
To seek cabinet approval for the adoption of
the development brief for Rochester Riverside as supplementary
planning guidance, the submission of an outline planning
application and a detailed application for the site infrastructure
works.
The Cabinet approved the responses to comments
received on the development brief and the recommended amendments in
Appendix 1 and agreed to adopt the development brief for Rochester
Riverside as supplementary planning guidance
The Cabinet approved the indicative masterplan and key land uses,
subject to SEEDA's similar agreement, as the basis of an outline
planning application to be submitted by both parties.
The Cabinet approved, subject to SEEDA's agreement, the submission
by both parties of a planning application for flood defence, ground
remediation and land raising.
The Cabinet agreed that the Contract rules be waived to permit the
Assistant Director of Legal and Contract Services to procure the
services of external legal advisors to provide support on the
Rochester Riverside project if required without a full tendering
process providing that quotations are sought from at least 6 firms
of solicitors with sufficient standing and experience in the
required work areas.
The Cabinet agreed that officers examine ways to maximise parking
availability within the indicative masterplan in line with the
Council's policy and government guidelines on the level of parking
provision for new developments.
The Cabinet agreed that a Community Centre be included in the list
of facilities for the development.
The Local Plan requires the development of
Rochester Riverside to comply with a development brief. Following
consultation, Cabinet agreed the brief as supplementary planning
guidance. It highlights issues that need to be considered at the
planning application stage if development of this scale and
complexity is to be successful and achieve high standards of
quality and sustainability.The masterplan ensures that the
development of the site will be co-ordinated and play its part in
the development of the whole Medway Waterfront. It will inform
SEEDA and Medway's disposal strategy for the site. An outline
planning permission for the site will give confidence to the
development industry and identify development contributions that
the Council will seek. The site is contaminated and at risk of
flooding. The remediation and flood defence works that will be the
subject of a detailed planning application will ensure the site is
suitable for residential and other development.Given the potential
duration of the project there is a prospect of external legal fees
exceeding the £100,000 threshold, which would trigger the
need for a formal tendering exercise. Waiving contract rules will
ensure that a technical breach of the rules will not occur in the
future. The safeguards within the recommendation ensure that the
Council will still have the degree of competition sufficient to
ensure providers offer value for money.
Publication date: 29/06/2004
Date of decision: 29/06/2004
Decided at meeting: 29/06/2004 - Cabinet
Effective from: 08/07/2004
Accompanying Documents: