Issue - meetings

Report number:     CAB/WS/21/062

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sara Mildmay-White

Lead officer: Julie Baird

Resolved:

That:

1.       the progress update for Barley Homes and steps outlined in Report number: CAB/WS/21/062, to secure its medium term pipeline of sites, be noted.

2.       The Barley Homes Business Plan 2021, attached as Exempt Appendix A to Report number: CAB/WS/21/062, be approved.

(Report number CAB/WS/21/062)

The Cabinet considered this report, which sought approval for the Barley Homes Business Plan 2021.

Councillor Sara Mildmay-White, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Strategic Health, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet, including that the Barley Homes scheme at Westmill Place (formerly Westfield), Haverhill, for the delivery of 63 homes, of which 19 were affordable had been completed during the summer of 2021 and sold with residents moving in shortly afterwards and throughout September and October 2021. Stonemill Park (formerly Castle Hill) had progressed well with homes envisaged to be available on the market in early 2022 with a potential completion of the scheme by May 2022.

The proposed business plan (Exempt Appendix A) focussed on Barley Homes’ completion of the development at Stonemill Park as well as work to bring forward the site at Kingshall Street, Rougham. Progress made with the sites at School Lane, Great Barton and at College Heath Road, Mildenhall was also reported in the business plan.

A number of future sites were being explored by Barley Homes and the Council as part of the ongoing process of supplying the company with a viable development pipeline. This would enable Barley Homes to continue to utilise the agreed £14.25 million investment fund which in turn provided financial returns to the Council. The annual business planning process had not highlighted a need to revise the total investment fund. As there was no further funding required for the investment fund for Barley Homes, the approval of the 2021 business plan sat as an executive function of the Cabinet.

Members commended the work of officers involved in producing the business plan and were extremely pleased with the good progress made by Barley Homes in the last year. The provision of much needed housing, including affordable homes, as well as the returns generated for the Council, was commendable.

A discussion was also held on the composition of the Barley Homes board and its future direction.

Resolved:

That:

1.       the progress update for Barley Homes and steps outlined in Report number: CAB/WS/21/062, to secure its medium term pipeline of sites, be noted.

2.       The Barley Homes Business Plan 2021, attached as Exempt Appendix A to Report number: CAB/WS/21/062, be approved.