Decision details

This report updates the Executive on external funding secured from Homes England for Welborne Garden Village and seeks approval for the use of these funds to commission strategies and studies to help progress and deliver Welborne, in line with the Government’s Garden Village principles.

Welborne was awarded Garden Village status in January 2017 and the Council applied for Homes England round two Capacity Funding in August 2017.

On 05 December 2017, the Council received notification that Welborne Garden Village had been awarded £275,000 of Capacity Funding for 2017/18.  This funding is in addition to the £228,000 secured in round one.

A condition of the Homes England funding is that it is spent on specific activity set out in the bid submission and that project activity must have commenced before 31 March 2018.  Therefore, these external funds will be used to commission two strategies and seven studies that will help accelerate the delivery of Welborne and provide additional project management capacity in the Welborne team.

There are two focussed strategy commissions for Welborne Garden Village, namely for Placemaking and Community Development.  In addition, seven important housing studies will be commissioned that will investigate and develop solutions on housing needs; private rental market; intermediate housing; specialist accommodation for older people; Council house building; self and custom build; and house building to Passivhaus standards.

The commissions will be awarded in line with the Council’s contract procedure and procurement processes.  It is anticipated to award contracts for the commissions in mid-February and early March 2018.

Each commission includes external partner and internal officer and Portfolio Holder consultation and engagement.

RESOLVED that the Executive:-

(a)  delegates authority to the Director of Planning and Regulation, following consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Development as appropriate, to procure the strategies and studies required to progress Welborne in line with the Government’s Garden Village principles; and

(b)  approves the expenditure in relation to (a) above from grant funding provided by Homes England, together with any subsequent unforeseen capacity requirements agreed and funded by them as necessary.