Agenda item

Redevelopment of Brook Multi Storey Car Park

Minutes:

Background:

 

The report presented a Procurement Gateway 1 & 3 paper for consideration. As well as an addition of the £400,000 to be funded from Capital receipts to the relevant budget, it was noted that the Council had submitted a grant funding bid for £1.5m to the Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF), a cross government initiative between the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and One Public Estate (OPE). The site had been declared surplus to requirements (Cabinet decision number: 49/2025). If successful, the bid would unlock the redevelopment of the Brook Multistorey Car park to deliver 100 residential units, in line with the Chatham Design Code.

 

It was noted that if the bid was successful, the funder required two milestones to be achieved: that the contractor be appointed by March 2026; and that the land be released by September 2027.

 

Decision

number: 

Decision:

 

36/2026

The Cabinet approved the appointment of Medway Development Company (MDC) as Project Manager and Contractor to undertake the grant funded Brownfield Land Release Fund works, subject to a successful bid, as set out in paragraph 4.5 of the report.

37/2026

The Cabinet approved the appointment of Medway Development Company (MDC) as Project Manager to undertake the residential design works up to Planning Application stage, subject to a successful bid, as set out in paragraph 4.5 of the report.

38/2026

The Cabinet agreed to recommend to Full Council to approve an addition to the Capital Programme of £400,000 funded from Capital receipts, to undertake the design works for the residential element up to Planning application stage and Project Management fees, subject to a successful bid, as set out in paragraph 4.5 of the report.

39/2026

The Cabinet noted that the Chief Operating Officer could add the Brownfield Land Release Fund Grant Funding to the Capital Programme under authority delegated to him in the Council’s Employee Delegation Scheme, subject to a successful bid, as set out in paragraph 4.5 of the report, and Full Council approval of 38/2026 above.

Reasons:

Subject to a successful bid, it is proposed that MDC is appointed as Project Manager and Contractor to deliver the BLRF works to bring forward the site. The teckal exemption would be utilised to appoint MDC as Project Manager and Contractor. Cabinet approval is required due to the value of the direct award (over £1 million) and the nature of the Brook Multistorey Car Park being a high-profile site. The funding requirements stipulate that a contractor needs to be appointed by March 2026.

 

If successful, the BLRF grant will fund the enabling works on site, however, to meet the land release milestone of September 27, the Council needs to develop the residential design up to a Planning application, and cover project management fees, requiring an addition of £400,000. Post award of a successful Planning application the site would transfer to MDC (subject to MDC Shareholder Sub Committee approval and best consideration being met) or an alternative developer.

 

If successful, the grant can only be accepted with the governance in place for an addition of £400,000 for the residential design and project management fees, as well as the appointment of MDC as Project Manager and Contractor. Without the redevelopment the council will need to continue to monitor and maintain an aging structure, within the next 5-10 years it is likely there will need to be significant expenditure to keep it operational.

Supporting documents: