Issue - meetings

Site of the former Rock Ferry high School - sale to a Registered Provider

Meeting: 20/01/2020 - Cabinet (Item 82)

82 Site of the former Rock Ferry high School - sale to a Registered Provider pdf icon PDF 82 KB

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Minutes:

Councillor Janette Williamson introduced a report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to the sale of part of the site of the former Rock Ferry High School in Rock Ferry.

 

Councillor Williamson reported that the sale would support the Wirral Plan and its delivery through the generation of capital receipts and would enable a Registered Provider of social housing to develop affordable homes in the borough. Improving housing availability for residents was a key priority for the Council.  Enabling regeneration projects that also supported the Local Plan in the process were ideal for the area, its green spaces, residents and future homeowners.

 

Councillor Williamson informed that the sale of the site would allow the provider to develop affordable housing, bringing much needed social value to the area as it repurposed the space to benefit the community. Also, as part of an extra care housing scheme, supported by funding from Homes England, the development would see 186 shared ownerships and affordable rent residential units including houses, bungalows and apartments created on the site.  Of these, more than 100 would be extra care units. 

 

Councillor Williamson further informed that whilst the development itself responded directly to the borough’s affordable housing needs, the Council would also benefit from a capital receipt resulting from the sale of the land, a portion of which would help to pay for the improvement of Riverside Primary School. 

 

Cabinet Members, in turn, informed how pleased they were to support the proposal and noted that it would help to push forward its agenda for community wealth building,redirecting wealth back into the local economy and placing control and benefits into the hands of local people.

 

This matter affected the Rock Ferry Ward and was a key decision.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Director of Delivery Services be authorised to agree a sale of part of the site of the former Rock Ferry High School to Torus62 Ltd (Registered Society No RS007826) for £2,100,000 plus a contribution of £1,500 towards the Council’s legal costs and Surveyor’s fees.