Decision details

The former Army Reserve Centre at Weston Road, Crewe was marketed for disposal by the MOD with local agents seeking unconditional offers for the site.

This is a strategic opportunity to acquire a vacant site situated adjacent to the Council’s Business Generation Centre – Scope House, which is also fronting on to Weston Road, and would increase the strategic land holding and potentially the capital value and revenue derived from the sites going forward when the opportunity arises.

The holding costs for the acquisition site will be minimal, incurring nominal landscaping and fencing maintenance.  The site is cleared with no buildings to demolish or maintain and is secured with a security fence around the whole site and there is no evidence of littering or issues requiring security provision.

The acquisition value is considered to be market value representing best consideration and will be paid from the strategic acquisitions capital budget. Due to the nature of the transaction, the Council is acquiring the site on an unconditional basis with unknown ground conditions. 

That:

1        the acquisition of the site of the former Army Reserve Centre, at Weston Road, Crewe be agreed;

2        all practical decisions required to agree and complete the transaction including all legal documentation be delegated to the Director of Legal Services and Head of Asset Management; and

3        the consideration of £730,000 on an unconditional basis, with each party bearing their own costs of acquisition, be agreed.