To receive the Cornovii Developments Limited Update Report from the Assistant Director Homes and Communities, Place.  [Report attached]

Contact Jane Trethewey

Members received the report of the Assistant Director Homes and Communities which gave an update from Cornovii Developments Limited (CDL) on the company’s progress since the last meeting of the Board.

The Assistant Director Homes and Communities informed Members that the report provided an update in relation to the first three sites at Crowmoor, Frith Close, Monkmoor, Shrewsbury; Ellesmere Wharf, Ellesmere; and Overton Road, Ifton Heath and noted the following points in relation to each site:

Crowmoor

Planning permission for this site was granted in August following the submission of a planning application in April 2020 for 33 homes and details were summarised at paragraph 4 of Appendix A.

Overton Road, Ifton Heath

Following feedback and review of the draft local plan, a revised scheme for 36 units has been prepared as detailed at Appendix B of the report with a new planning application submitted in November and a planning decision anticipated by March 2021.

Ellesmere Wharf

A residential development of 23 homes was now proposed at this site and details were summarised at paragraph 6 of Appendix A and a proposed site plan was attached at Appendix C.

The Assistant Director Homes and Communities referred to the planned Virtual Tour of the sites due to take place on the 20th November 2020 on Microsoft Teams and explained that the tour will show the Board and other stakeholders the proposed Cornovii pipeline, allowing stakeholders to have sight of current and future opportunities.

It was explained to the Board that CDL was exploring other ways to address unmet housing need across the county and had recently issued a tender opportunity to advise on the market opportunities for Private Rental Sector Housing (PRS) within Shropshire. The Assistant Director Homes and Communities added that the findings from this report would support a business case for funding to deliver a comprehensive PRS offer for Shropshire with the aim to include a business case for PRS in Shropshire within Shropshire Council’s capital strategy in February 2021.

Members were informed that CDL had awarded a contract to provide the company with branding and marketing services for a period of 18 months to Reech Media, based in Shrewsbury. It was noted by the Assistant Director Homes and Communities that as part of the contract Reech were working with the CDL to develop a new company logo, a social media launch strategy and a new website set to be launched at the end of January 2021.

The Managing Director of CDL, in response to a Member’s query regarding the report into the Private Rental Sector, noted that this was a great opportunity for CDL and added that it was envisaged that CDL would work with a specialist management company to address issues such as Anti-Social Behaviour. The Assistant Director Homes and Communities added that CDL would be looking to set a challenge to other private landlords by demonstrating how to do this well.

In response to a Member’s question regarding whether priority would be given to local people wishing to rent, the Managing Director of CDL advised that CDL focussed on unmet housing need in Shropshire and would advertise locally for the first 14 days.

RESOLVED:  that the report of the Assistant Director Homes and Communities be noted.