Decision details

The purpose of this report is to gain approval to tender for contractors to develop 3 schemes comprising 1 affordable housing unit at the following locations:

Springfield Drive, Boroughbridge
Gascoigne Crescent, Harrogate
Poplar Grove, Harrogate

The tender will include -

• Facilitating works – to include but not limited to security and fencing and site clearence
• Super structure works
• Internal finishes including fittings furnishings and equipment
• Services
• External works
• Any necessary approvals – LABC, building Regulations, discharge of planning conditions etc
• Provision of a handover pack

The list above is not exhaustive

The contract will likely be for around 9 months although extensions will be given if the build process takes longer than anticipated.

Approval granted to procure external contractors to undertake development works at:
Poplar Grove, Harrogate
Springfield Drive, Boroughbridge
Gascoigne Crescent, Harrogate

A budget of £600k has been attributed to the development of these schemes.

The 3 sites on which development is proposed comprise garden land and underutilised amenity land owned by the Council.

The development proposals are as follows:
Poplar Grove, Harrogate – 1 x 3 bed detached house
Springfield Drive, Boroughbridge – 1 x 2 bed semi detached house
Gascoigne Crescent, Harrogate – 1 x 3 bed semi detached house

The homes will all be made available for rent to those on the councils housing waiting list, providing much needed accommodation on underutilised land.
The properties are all located close to town centres and have been designed to achieve EPC ratings of both A and B dependant on the plot, though the use of solar panels, air source heat pumps and electric charging points. This not only contributes to reducing the Councils carbon footprint but also ensures that the homes are energy efficient thus reducing the occupier’s energy bills.

The sites benefit from full planning permission.

The sites have all been granted Brownfield Housing Funding. A requirement of this funding is that the sites are developed out by November 2025. As a result it is essential that the tender process is started within the next month to ensure a start on site can be achieved before the end of 2024.

The budget for the sites is approved and under the Council current capital programme as outlined in the Application for Homes England Investment Partner Status and Associated Affordable Housing Programme 2021-26 Bid.

To not appoint a contractor would result in the sites not being developed. This is rejected as the funding would be lost and much needed affordable housing would not be provided.