Morris Homes has secured planning consent for a 39 dwelling residential development. This includes a provision for 30% affordable housing and financial contributions of £216,665 (circa £5,500 per dwelling) in respect of S106.
In order to get full planning consent this requires completion of a Section 106 agreement in respect of the above obligations. A s106 Agreement cannot be completed until the site is sold because the Council cannot enter into a Section 106 agreement with itself, as landowner and local planning authority, however, the Council can enter into a s111 Agreement with the proposed purchaser which would enable the planning permission to be issued and the buyer to enter into the s106 Agreement when it has an interest in the land. This is subject to the Council entering into a conditional agreement to sell the land to the proposed purchaser.
The Council will receive a capital receipt from the sale of the property which will contribute to the Councils 2015/16 disposals target, as well as providing 39 new homes (which includes 30% affordable housing).
The Councils Planning and Highways Department have both been consulted, as part of the planning application and more recently, with regards to the suitability of access from both Newall Avenue and Millpool Way (the existing Morris Homes development). It was confirmed that access via Newall Avenue is insufficient to serve a development of this nature alone and therefore recommended that only a small number of dwellings be served via Newall Avenue. In light of this information a sale to Morris Homes is considered the only viable sale option.
A sale to a named party (Morris Homes) is recommended because the offer made by Morris Homes represents best value.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Wards affected: Sandbach Heath and East;