Issue - meetings

Report No: CAB/FH/16/031

Portfolio Holder: Lance Stanbury     Lead Officer: Steven Wood

RESOLVED:

That:-

1.           The work undertaken to-date to develop an A11 Growth Corridor project, be noted.

2.           The key findings of the Feasibility Study be endorsed.

3.           Authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth, to enter into legal agreements to establish suitable governance for the project and to with Partners to bring the project forward.

(Report No: CAB/FH/16/031)

Councillor Lance Stanbury, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth, presented this item which set out the findings of the Feasibility Study into the delivery of an A11 Growth Corridor and to seek the authority to continue work, in partnership with other relevant local authorities, towards its establishment.

As part of the scope of the Feasibility Study, the Partner Councils (ie Breckland Council, Forest Heath District Council and South Norfolk District Council), had proposed 25 sites, along the A11, for the consultants to evaluate.  These were assessed on a “multi-criteria basis”, including:

·         Deliverability – how easy was it to develop the site given existing constraints?

·         Suitability – was the site suitable for development?

·         Achievability – would the site be developed?; did it have planning permission?; was it readily available for immediate occupation?

·         Contribution – would the site help to transform the Corridor to meet the draft vision?

The outcome of this evaluation was that 11 sites (the detail of these sites were set out in the Exempt Appendix 2 to the report) had been shortlisted to make a significant contribution to economic growth along the A11.  Three sites of these sites were also likely to make a very significant contribution to the overall criteria.  These sites were set out in Table 1 of paragraph 1.2.2 of the report.

Therefore, the Cabinet were asked to support and endorse the findings of the Feasibility Study and agree to embark on the next delivery stage of bring the project to life.  The Leaders of both South Norfolk District Council and Breckland Council had indicated their support for the findings of the Study and had agreed to move towards a partnership phase.  Conversations had also been progressing with East Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council to see whether they would also support the establishment of an A11 economic growth corridor.

It was proposed, seconded and with the vote being unanimous, it was

RESOLVED:

That:-

1.           The work undertaken to-date to develop an A11 Growth Corridor project, be noted.

2.           The key findings of the Feasibility Study be endorsed.

3.           Authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth, to enter into legal agreements to establish suitable governance for the project and to with Partners to bring the project forward.