To consider the Cornovii Developments Ltd, Sites Update Report [Report attached]

Contact:  Mark Barrow     Tel 01743 258916

Members received the report of the Director of Place which gave an update from Cornovii Developments Limited [CDL] on the company’s progress since the last meeting of the Board.

The Director of Place informed Members that the report covered the progress made on bring forward the first wave of development by Cornovii Developments Limited [CDL].  Members noted that 97 new units, 62 units for sale, 35 units of affordable dwellings including 12 bungalows to meet unmet need had been planned. The Frith Close site was due to commence development at the end of 2020 with the other two sites commencing 2021.

The Director of Place introduced Harpreet Rayet, Lead Director of CDL, who gave further details of the progress achieved on each site. 

He advised that the Firth Close site had recently submitted the planning application with positive feedback recieved.  Members noted that there were a number of technical issues were being resolved.  Overall, the urban design principles, density and property designs had received positive feedback from the local community and planning officers. Further consultation with the community would be undertaken regarding traffic management issues and build methods relating to the site once the planning application had received approval. It was anticipated that the full planning application would be before the Planning Committed in the next few months, and following statutory Judicial Review, the grant of planning permission was anticipated for September or October 2020.

In response to a Member’s question, the Lead Director of CDL agreed that the development would be a mixture of affordable housing, shared ownership and open market properties with no differences in appearance of the properties. He agreed with the Member’s comments on the importance of supporting connectivity between green spaces and local amenities.  He noted that during the Covid-19 crisis the importance of green spaces and gardens had been highlighted which supported the decision not to over develop the site.

Members heard that the Ellesmere Warf site had been brought forward following work with the Council’s Asset Management Officers. Constraints had been identified due to the number of surveys which were still required. The outcomes of these surveys would then influence the final layout of the scheme.  Emphasis was put on the need for the design to be sympathetic to the local area, taking into account in the local facilities, such as the canal, with a mix of housing to meet local need.  It was anticipated that the final layout would be completed by July, at which point the consultation process with the Town Council and local community would be initiated, with the aim to submit the Planning Application shortly after.

In response to a Member’s query on the challenging nature of the site, the Lead Director of CDL confirmed that the site was a challenging one and had identified other issues such as tree protection orders, the location of a culvert running under the site, an Easement, and an area of contamination.  It was anticipated that these issues could be resolved.  The Director of CDL confirmed that an area of green space would be fenced off and the trees already in the area would deter unauthorised use of this feature.

Members noted that the final application for the Overton Road, Ifton Heath site had been submitted for approval by the Planning Committee. All surveys had been completed and the site had a density of below thirty homes per hectare, in line with the requirements for a development in a rural area. The site was a mix of two, three and four bedroom dwellings including a number of bungalows, incorporating existing areas of green space which were problematic to develop due to the topography.  The outcome of the Planning Application was expected for September with the statutory Judicial Review period running until November.  Commencement of work on site was anticipated for early in the new year.  At a Members request, the Lead Director of CDL outlined the potential topographical issues referred to, which comprised of a substantial slope and an area of environmental interest.  It was anticipated that this area would remain as green local space and would become a feature of the site. Further slopes on the site were also pointed out which would also become features of the site open to the public.

The Lead Director of CDL introduced Lucy Heath who had recently joined Cornovii Developments Ltd as a Business Manager, Simon Hodgetts who had also recently joined the company as a Development Project Manager and Lindsay Truman also as a Development Project Manager. 

RESOLVED:  that the report of the Director of Place be noted.