Issue - meetings

Joint report of the Corporate Director (Housing and Community) and Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the appropriation of properties for conversion to social housing.

Cabinet approved 106 Haldens and 185 Knightsfield be appropriated to the Housing Revenue Account, at best value of £725,000, to enable their use as social housing (subject to planning consent).

Joint report of the Corporate Director (Housing and Community) and Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the appropriation of properties for conversion to social housing.

(1)       The Decision Taken

RESOLVED:

Cabinet approved 106 Haldens and 185 Knightsfield be appropriated to the Housing Revenue Account, at best value of £725,000, to enable their use as social housing (subject to planning consent).

(2)       Reasons for the Decision

The Council owned terraced properties are in residential areas. They are both currently classified for planning purposes as D1 as they were previously used as Doctors surgeries.

With ever increasing demand for social housing and a low demand for D1 use properties, it is recommended that the properties are converted to residential use, subject to planning approval. Pre-planning advice had been sought which has been positive and it is expected that full planning approval can be obtained.

The Housing team have inspected the properties and are comfortable that these properties would require minimal works to convert, and once converted would help meet housing demand. These works would be undertaken through existing contracts.

Councillor D.Bell commented saying that this was a really good idea. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) will get new homes and will help affordable housing. The General Fund will get a Capital receipt and we will be able to do more in the General Fund than with residential properties. Councillor T.Mitchinson also agreed that this will be a good idea as there is a shortage of these types of properties for families.