Decision details

To receive an update regarding ongoing work related to 11-12 and 24 High Street, Wisbech and to ask approval for acceptance of a grant to support the building work at 24 High Street.

Members considered the Wisbech High Street update report presented by Councillor Seaton.

Councillor Hoy said if we do go down the affordable route in respect of 11-12 High Street, then she would be keen for there to be a local lettings policy. Councillor Seaton agreed that would not be a problem and thanked Councillor Hoy.

Councillor Count said that he noted in respect of 24 High Street, it references that the CPCA wants affordable housing; it references separately that there will be a specific lettings policy. He asked if the only difference with the lettings policy is in relation to the fact that this is for affordable tenure and that there are no other differences to be made aware of. Councillor Hoy said that she believed this had been put in at her request because her concern was that if there was not a local lettings policy in place and it was just left as affordable, we could not control who the properties were let to. Given the central location of the property and some of the issues in the town centre perhaps we should be selective about who we let the units to. Councillor Count thanked Councillor Hoy for the clarification and said that makes perfect sense. Councillor Boden added that the reference to affordability is just a matter of percentage of market rental value, which would be a maximum of 80%.

Councillor Tierney stated that he is relaxed about the final use within the specification that Councillor Hoy has already raised but what the people of Wisbech want is to see the buildings looking nice again and that gateway into town looking like it used to.    

Proposed by Councillor Seaton, seconded by Councillor Tierney and Cabinet AGREED that:

·         the current position in relation to these two significant projects in Wisbech High Street be noted;

·         the S151 Officer be authorised to enter into a grant funding agreement with the Combined Authority to accept the grant funding of £210,000 to support 24 High Street’s development costs; and

·         the 6 residential units in High Street would be let with a specific lettings policy for these flats being developed upon build completion and that the policy will conform with the grant funding agreement.