Agenda item

Purpose:  For the Executive to consider the draft Development Brief as submitted by Avison Young and start the process to consult on the draft Development Brief in bringing forward regeneration on the London Road Industrial Estate (LRIE).

Resolved that publication of the draft Development Brief be approved and public consultation on the draft Development Brief be launched in order to bring forward regeneration on the London Road Industrial Estate (LRIE).

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 10 September 2020, then it will be implemented.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 6) concerning the draft Development Brief for the London Road Industrial Estate (LRIE) as submitted by Avison Young.

The Council had a new draft Development Brief that confirmed regeneration of the LRIE remained a viable proposition. It was acknowledged that the process would be long, challenging and potentially risky depending on whether the Council considered any element of self-delivery.  Nonetheless, bringing forward regeneration was within the Council’s capability.

The draft Development Brief set out a number of delivery options that represented different balances between financial risk and reward and corresponding levels of control. This level of information should give the Council confidence to now present the draft Development Brief to the public for comment and where the aim should be to appropriately acknowledge feedback on the draft Development Brief and publish it in its final form later in the year.  At that point the Council could review matters again and consider in detail the next technical steps to be taken should the Council decide to proceed further in the process of bringing forward regeneration on the LRIE.

Councillor Ross Mackinnon stated that the report sought approval to publish the document and to launch a public consultation exercise. It had been a long held vision of the Council to regenerate the site and it was hoped to attract high quality development with a mix of office and residential accommodation. The development of this area was linked to the Recovery Strategy.

The Development Brief confirmed that regeneration of the site was still viable and set out two overarching approaches – a ‘Baseline Masterplan’ which presumed a progressive plot by plot development or a ‘Comprehensive Masterplan’ which was holistic and where all elements were interrelated. Councillor Mackinnon confirmed that the Council was committed to supporting the existing businesses on the site. 

Councillor Lynne Doherty seconded the report and stated that it confirmed the fact that West Berkshire was open for business and would secure job opportunities for future generations.

Councillor Tony Vickers raised concerns that the Council was looking at a masterplan which was business led. It would have no formal status as a planning document and therefore it presented as considerable risk. He noted that there seemed to be a number of gaps in the brief such as flood risk which was an important factor.  He was also concerned about displacing existing business community assets who might incur a loss of revenue or constraints of moving from the current site. Councillor Ross Mackinnon responded that the Development Brief was silent on the planning issue was that the local authority had an interest as landowner which could be a conflict of interest and therefore it was proper to keep it separate. However, he acknowledged that Councillor Vickers had made valid points but he stressed that this report was merely asking for permission to go out to consultation and a further report would be produced for further consideration once the consultation exercise had completed and all responses had been taken into account.

Councillor Alan Macro stated that there were a large number of businesses on the estate who would be worried out their future and he asked what the Council would be doing to reassure businesses. Councillor Ross Mackinnon stated that the Council would commit to supporting businesses to remain on the site or to move to alternative premises.

Councillor Steve Masters referred to paragraph 9.45 of the Development Brief and asked whether there was any further detail which had been provided on the figures/assumptions. For example, how were the values arrived at, what was the cost of relocating the football ground, cost of SUDs and clean-up of the site and the compensation for businesses? Councillor Ross Mackinnon replied that these were very specific questions and this was not the forum for that level of detail. All of these queries would be answered by Officers through the consultation process.

RESOLVED that the publication of the draft Development Brief be approved and the public consultation on the draft Development Brief would be launched in order to bring forward regeneration on the London Road Industrial Estate.

Reason for the decision: To launch the public consultation on the Development Brief for the London Road Industrial Estate.

Other options considered:

(1)       To sell the Council’s freehold interest in the London Road Industrial Estate.

(2)       To note the contents of the Development Brief and for the Council to decide not to initiate and drive forward regeneration on the London Road Industrial Estate.