Issue - meetings

1. Title of Item/Report

Billingham Town Centre and Sports Hub

2. Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report that provided an update on the development of a masterplan for Billingham town centre and sought approval for the partial acquisition of Billingham town centre and associated next steps, to enable redevelopment in line with the emerging masterplan and successful Levelling Up Fund bid.

The report also provided an update on the emerging proposals for Billingham Sports Hub, as part of the Council’s commitment to improving leisure facilities and encouraging participation in sport and active leisure.

Since the acquisition of the town centre the Council had been in discussion with Evolve Properties to explore opportunities for how the masterplan can be delivered and what role the Council and Levelling Up Funding could play in enabling redevelopment.

The Council had agreed to acquire West Precinct and part of the adjacent Queensway South block at the point of vacant possession.  Full details of the acquisition and valuation rationale were provided to members in exempt Appendix A. The first phase of redevelopment would therefore focus on working alongside Evolve to relocate tenants from the properties to be acquired, into other units, within the town centre. LUF would be used to cover the cost of this process.

The tenant relocation strategy would be led by Evolve, as landlord, and would require negotiation and agreement dependent on the specific lease arrangements and conditions.

Detailed negotiations on tenant relocation would commence following Cabinet approval to proceed.

Following the relocation of businesses and at the point of vacant possession, a phased programme of demolition would be undertaken. This process would facilitate the creation of a more sustainable level of retail floorspace across the town centre whilst retaining key anchor tenants, adding vibrancy, increasing footfall and providing opportunities for new uses, investment and job creation in the town centre.

The cleared West Precinct, Queensway South and former Library site would create an area that had the potential to accommodate a new residential community of circa 160 units in the heart of the town centre alongside new retail space and improvements to accessible infrastructure, public realm and car parking.

The total cost of relocation, demolition and fees was estimated at £13m in addition to expenditure on acquisition, as set out in exempt Appendix A.

Options for securing a development partner would be explored to facilitate the future redevelopment of the West Precinct site. Depending on the nature of any future development agreement, it was likely that some funding would be required to support the redevelopment of the site. 

Cabinet was asked to agree to the principles of redevelopment as described above and in paragraphs 13-20 of the report and delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Inclusive Growth in consultation with Director of Finance, Transformation and Performance, Director of Corporate Services authority to negotiate and complete the necessary legal documentation and all other contracts and agreements to support the proposals.

As part of the Council’s commitment to  ...  view the full decision text for item 24

Consideration was given to a report that provided an update on the development of a masterplan for Billingham town centre and sought approval for the partial acquisition of Billingham town centre and associated next steps, to enable redevelopment in line with the emerging masterplan and successful Levelling Up Fund bid.

The report also provided an update on the emerging proposals for Billingham Sports Hub, as part of the Council’s commitment to improving leisure facilities and encouraging participation in sport and active leisure.

Since the acquisition of the town centre the Council had been in discussion with Evolve Properties to explore opportunities for how the masterplan can be delivered and what role the Council and Levelling Up Funding could play in enabling redevelopment.

The Council had agreed to acquire West Precinct and part of the adjacent Queensway South block at the point of vacant possession.  Full details of the acquisition and valuation rationale were provided to members in exempt Appendix A. The first phase of redevelopment would therefore focus on working alongside Evolve to relocate tenants from the properties to be acquired, into other units, within the town centre. LUF would be used to cover the cost of this process.

The tenant relocation strategy would be led by Evolve, as landlord, and would require negotiation and agreement dependent on the specific lease arrangements and conditions.

Detailed negotiations on tenant relocation would commence following Cabinet approval to proceed.

Following the relocation of businesses and at the point of vacant possession, a phased programme of demolition would be undertaken. This process would facilitate the creation of a more sustainable level of retail floorspace across the town centre whilst retaining key anchor tenants, adding vibrancy, increasing footfall and providing opportunities for new uses, investment and job creation in the town centre.

The cleared West Precinct, Queensway South and former Library site would create an area that had the potential to accommodate a new residential community of circa 160 units in the heart of the town centre alongside new retail space and improvements to accessible infrastructure, public realm and car parking.

The total cost of relocation, demolition and fees was estimated at £13m in addition to expenditure on acquisition, as set out in exempt Appendix A.

Options for securing a development partner would be explored to facilitate the future redevelopment of the West Precinct site. Depending on the nature of any future development agreement, it was likely that some funding would be required to support the redevelopment of the site. 

Cabinet was asked to agree to the principles of redevelopment as described above and in paragraphs 13-20 of the report and delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Inclusive Growth in consultation with Director of Finance, Transformation and Performance, Director of Corporate Services authority to negotiate and complete the necessary legal documentation and all other contracts and agreements to support the proposals.

As part of the Council’s commitment to improving leisure facilities and encouraging participation in sport and active leisure, the Playing Pitch and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24