Issue - meetings

STOCKTON-ON-TEES BOROUGH COUNCIL

CABINET DECISION

PROFORMA

Cabinet Meeting ........................................................................ 12 June 2025

Consideration was given to a report on Accelerating Affordable Housing Delivery ('A quality home for all').

A previous report was presented to Cabinet (12.9.2024) which outlined the Governments ambition to increase the delivery of quality affordable and social housing and to bring forward investment to help deliver “the biggest increase in affordable housing building in a generation”, whilst also acknowledging the role affordable housing has in supporting economic growth and as a key enabler for local leader to manage local housing pressures.  The September 2024 Cabinet report also highlighted that the Council, like most local authorities was experiencing increased demand for affordable housing at a time of limited supply and this was impacting on the ability to prevent homelessness and support vulnerable adults and care leavers to secure independent accommodation.  Cabinet subsequently agreed to support an option appraisal which would consider the potential opportunities available to the Council to accelerate affordable housing delivery in the Borough. This was accompanied by a scrutiny review which was reported to Cabinet in April 2025.  The report details the outcome of this appraisal and seeks approval for next steps.

The report highlighted the following key areas:-

- Current challenges

- Key headlines

- Accelerating Affordable Housing Option Appraisal

- Affordable housing sites (initial phase)

- Commuted sum monies

The provision of a mixed tenure affordable housing offer (which will provide ‘a quality home for all’) would be considered as an integral part of the Councils regeneration ambitions across Central Stockton, North Thornaby, Billingham Town Centre and the Care and Health Innovation Zone).  However potential sites would also start to come forward through the ongoing work to rationalise council building / assets (as referenced in paragraph 15 of the report).  Given the current housing needs and the limited additional units projected to come forward via third parties in the immediate future, it was imperative that the Council moved forward with the Hybrid Delivery Model as quickly as possible.  On this basis Cabinet was asked to approve ‘in principle’ an initial phase of smaller sites for the purpose of affordable housing delivery these were:

(a)      Raleigh Road (vacant potential in-fill site)

(b)      Londonderry Road (vacant potential in-fill site)

(c)      Stirling House (once vacant)

(d)      Parkside House (once vacant)

(e)      Thornaby Baths (once vacant/following the opening of the Thornaby Pavilion & Pool)

It was estimated that the release of the above sites for affordable units would deliver an initial phase of  between 67-114 new homes.  Subject to Cabinet approval, work would commence to explore the quantum of the affordable housing that could be delivered on each site (in terms of specification, type, tenure and density), site feasibility work and engagement with potential partners.  This would inform which of the Hybrid Delivery Models was best placed to successfully bring the site forward.

The principle of using council land for the delivery of housing was set out in the Strategic Asset Management Plan which was agreed by Cabinet in December 2024 (decision record  CAB77/24). The Strategic Asset Management Plan sets  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20