Agenda item

RESOLVED that 1) subject to planning approval, Executive approves the capital expenditure budget as outlined within the report to deliver the Alder Close affordable housing building scheme in the amount of £2,035,877 (less £670,000) – Scenario 1, Table 1,

2) subject to planning approval, a report be submitted to Council to update the schemes included in the Bolsover Homes pipeline funding envelope of £36.2m for the Alder Close, Shirebrook scheme which was currently not included.

3) subject to planning approval, Executive agrees that the Council enters into contract with Dragonfly Development Limited for the development of Alder Close as outlined in the report, subject to Council approval for inclusion in Bolsover Homes pipeline funding.

Executive considered a detailed report, presented by Councillor Sandra Peake, which sought Member’s approval to construct nine new dwellings at Alder Close, Shirebrook.  The report also sought approval to appoint Dragonfly Development Limited to deliver the new builds.

At the time of publication of this report, the scheme brought forward had not been granted planning permission, however, Councillor Ritchie confirmed that planning permission had been granted at Planning Committee held on 22^nd January 2025.

The scheme would provide a mix of nine houses comprising of 2 x 3 Bed Semi-Detached, 2 x 2 Bed Semi-Detached, 2 x 1 Bed Semi-Detached and 3 x 1 Bed Terraced. A site layout was shown at Appendix 1 to the report.  The properties would meet National Design Guide Characteristics and were built to Design Team preferences.  The external elevations of the properties had been designed to complement and enhance the surrounding area of Shirebrook.

The costs put forward by Dragonfly Development Limited had been independently assessed by Whiteley Eaves Ltd, who were appointed by the Council to act as Managing Agent, Quantity Surveyor and Principal Designer for Bolsover Homes schemes in a value for money assessment, and confirmed them to be competitive.

The construction of these new homes would provide the first nine of the 200 homes to meet the Council’s priority of delivering 200 new homes through the Bolsover Homes Programme using Dragonfly Development Ltd by March 2028. Members were asked to note that this scheme was not included within the Bolsover Homes work programme when agreed by the Council in July 2020.  However, following a review of available owned land by the Design Team it was decided that this was the optimal site to develop next.  If Executive agreed to the capital expenditure budget as outlined within the report for the scheme, a report requesting its inclusion in the Bolsover Homes pipeline would be submitted to Council for approval before the scheme could proceed.

Homes England (HE) had indicated that they were likely to offer funding towards the scheme from their current funding pot in the amount of £500,000, subject to grant of planning permission and sign off at national panel, which was expected by the end of February 2025.  HE had indicated that it would not be possible to provide this funding if the scheme completion date went beyond March 2026 as this was when the current round of funding must be spent.  HE had also stated that there was no certainty that Bolsover Homes schemes would be eligible for any new funding rounds that may become available beyond March 2026.

Brownfield Housing Funding for this scheme was applied for from EMCCA, who had indicated they would contribute £170,000 towards the scheme provided it met their funding criteria and could be defrayed by March 2026.  Both Homes England and EMCCA were aware of these two separate funding applications and had confirmed that both funding streams could be used for this scheme. Subject to Executive and Council approval, Dragonfly would be able to start on site in March 2025, which would allow time for the construction to be completed by March 2026, in line with funding deadlines.

Moved by Councillor Sandra Peake and seconded by Councillor John Ritchie

RESOLVED that: 1) Executive approves the capital expenditure budget as outlined within the report to deliver the Alder Close affordable housing building scheme in the amount of £2,035,877 (less £670,000) – Scenario 1, Table 1,

2)    a report be submitted to Council to update the schemes included in the Bolsover Homes pipeline funding envelope of £36.2m for the Alder Close, Shirebrook scheme, which was currently not included,

3)    Executive agrees that the Council enters into contract with Dragonfly Development Limited for the development of Alder Close as outlined in the report, subject to Council approval for inclusion in Bolsover Homes pipeline funding.

Reasons for Recommendation

To continue to meet the growing demand for affordable housing in the district.

To deliver a more affordable rental residential development in the district.

To help to meet the Council Priority of delivering 200 new homes through the Bolsover Homes Programme using Dragonfly Development Ltd by March 2028.

To meet the timeline criteria of funders.

Alternative Options and Reasons for Rejection

The Council could decide not to proceed with the scheme. This was rejected as there was budget to proceed and not proceeding would not help to meet the Council’s priority of delivering 200 new homes through the Bolsover Homes Programme using Dragonfly Development Ltd by March 2028.