Issue - meetings

Land to the East of Northdane Way, Lordswood

Meeting: 07/08/2018 - Cabinet (Item 6)

6 Land to the East of Northdane Way, Lordswood pdf icon PDF 351 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Background:

 

This report provided information concerning a proposed residential development of land at Gibraltar Farm and requested the Cabinet to consider options for the adjacent Council owned land which would provide access to the proposed development. It was explained that should the Cabinet be minded to dispose of the land or grant rights over it, the Council would obtain a significant capital receipt. 

 

The report stated that the value of the Council owned land would be subject to negotiation with the current landowner, but would be based on the Council receiving 1/3 of the increase in value between the value of the land as farm land and the value of the land for residential development, with planning permission for 450 units.

 

The Council would also, as part of the negotiation, secure its ability to receive further payments in the situation where the Council had allowed access to the Gibraltar Farm site and further development sites were accessed from that site.

 

An exempt appendix provided details of the valuation provided by the current landowner.

 

During discussion of this matter Cabinet Members considered the pressure to deliver additional housing across Medway and the benefit of a capital receipt arising from a decision to dispose of this Council owned land in the context of the overall financial position facing the Council. Cabinet Members also considered a range of factors supporting the option of taking positive action not to dispose of the land. In this regard reference was made to the importance of sustainable development and in particular adequate infrastructure.

 

Decision number:

Decision:

103/2018

The Cabinet agreed to take action not to dispose of the land to the East of Northdane Way, Lordswood as shown hatched black in the Plan set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

Note: In accordance with Council Rule 12.6, Councillors Doe, Rodney Chambers OBE, Chitty, Jarrett, Mackness and Potter requested that their vote for decision 103/2018 be recorded in the record of decisions.

In accordance with Council Rule 12.6, Councillors Filmer and Gulvin requested that their vote against decision 103/2018 be recorded in the record of decisions.

104/2018

The Cabinet confirmed the position that it will continue to use its best endeavours to protect the Capstone Valley from any form of development and will not facilitate or sell any land in the Capstone Valley or at the head of the Capstone Valley south of Hempstead for development.

 

Reasons:

 

This decision reflects the local community concern about the proposed development, the fact that ahead of Planning Inspectorate intervention the Planning Committee had refused planning permission for the development, the impact on infrastructure if the development were to go ahead and the Council’s long held view that the Capstone Valley should be protected from development.