Key information
Executive summary
MD1627 approved the business case for the acquisition of additional sites in the Blackhorse Road Housing Zone, London Borough of Waltham Forest, to deliver comprehensive regeneration. This MD seeks approval from the Mayor for expenditure to purchase these sites.
Additionally, this MD seeks approval for expenditure relating to the costs of ongoing management of the Webbs Industrial Site that sits within this Housing Zone, as well as costs relating to the future disposal of the site for redevelopment using the London Development Panel (LDP).
Decision
That the Mayor approves:
• The proposed acquisition of sites within the Waltham Forest Housing Zone for redevelopment, in line with the costings outlined at paragraph 1.7 of part 2 of this form;
• Expenditure of up to £362,700 for demolition and clearance of all building structures on the Webbs Industrial site;
• Expenditure of up to £21,000 for full replacement of the existing hoardings to the Webbs Industrial site, including corporate GLA Homes for Londoners branding;
• Expenditure of up to £58,000 for the appointment of legal advisors to undertake due diligence in relation to the appointment of a Development Partner for the Webbs site; and
• A budget of up to £13,000 for fees to undertake the final financial options appraisals and further valuation of the Webbs site in preparation for disposal.
Part 1: Non-confidential facts and advice
commenced in mid-April with a target to announce the successful bidder in September 2017.
1.6 The acquisition of this land to enable a comprehensive development will allow the delivery of circa 300 homes, maker workspace and a new green link through the site.
1.7 This Mayoral Decision seeks approval of expenditure to take forward negotiations with existing landowners in the Blackhorse Lane area with a view to acquiring the legal interests in these properties. The sites once acquired will be included within GLAP’s estate management portfolio. Further details on the proposed acquisitions are set out in part 2 of this report.
Webbs Site Clearance/Hoarding Renewal
1.8 Following the acquisition of the Webbs site, a review of the security and safety of the site has been undertaken by GVA (the GLA’s framework consultants).
1.9 GVA has advised that the condition of a number of the buildings on the site is of concern and at least one party wall is in imminent danger of collapse, and it is therefore in the best interest of the GLAP to undertake urgent demolition. The benefit of providing a cleared site is to make it more attractive for a prospective LDP developer and potentially speed up development of the site.
1.10 GVA has provided a quote of £362,700 for full demolition and clearance of all existing buildings on the site (with the exception of the live sub-station) down to ground floor slab level, and for the removal of all fuel containers on the site. GVA advises that once the works are tendered they will be able to negotiate a price with the successful tenderer in line with the quote. The anticipated timescale for demolition upon instruction of the works is up to nine months, assuming that there are no significant unforeseen issues, and up to 12 months if there are unforeseen issues arising (for example, a re-occurrence of Japanese Knotweed).
1.11 The existing hoarding to the site has been in place for some time and is in a poor state of repair with the need for reinforcement to prevent forced entry to the site. The hoarding does not give a good perception of the site and complaints have been received from local residents about its condition. It is proposed that the hoarding is replaced in its entirety and that GLA in partnership with the Borough brand the hoarding to reflect our joint aspirations for the regeneration of the area.
1.12 GVA has obtained a series of quotes of up to £21,000 for the full replacement of the existing hoardings. Such hoardings will include Homes for Londoners corporate branding and discussions will be held with the Borough to agree the graphics that should be incorporated on the hoardings to reflect the on-going regeneration of the area. It is anticipated that along with the management of the site that these hoardings will be managed by the development partner post contract.
Disposal of the Webbs site via the London Development Panel
1.13 This Mayoral Decision seeks approval to expend up to £58,000 to commission legal advice on the preparation of the mini-competition documentation and preparation of the legal agreements to be contracted with the selected developer. This budget is based on quotes received via TfL’s Legal Framework in accordance with the terms of the framework rates. Provision was made in the Mayor’s 2017/18 budget to fund the necessary resources to secure a development partner to deliver the Webbs scheme.
1.14 It is proposed that the legal advisor is appointed through TfL’s standard framework process immediately, with the commission lasting until at least November 2017 when the contract to develop the site will be let.
1.15 As part of the initial scoping process, GL Hearn was commissioned through TfL’s Property Framework to undertake a series of financial appraisals to scenario test land values depending on the level of affordable housing that could be delivered on this site. The valuations have been used to inform the GLA’s proposal to deliver a scheme of 100% affordable housing on the site. Further valuation of the site will be needed in order to meet the GLA’s obligations under Section 333z (c) of the Localism Act (the GLA is required to ensure that any disposal of land is not at less than best consideration, by virtue of section 333ZC of the GLA Act), and a total budget of up to £13,000 is sought to undertake this work.
2.1 The acquisition of the sites in Sutherland Road, alongside the Webbs site and their release for development for new homes, employment and artisan/commercial uses will lead to the comprehensive regeneration of the area. The non-financial expected outcomes will be the removal of bad neighbour uses, an improvement in the environment and an overall transformation in perceptions of the area.
2.2 The demolition of the existing structures on the Webbs site should speed up the development process at the same time as the procurement of a development partner for the site takes place.
2.3 Updated, improved and branded hoardings for the site will showcase the work of the GLA in regenerating the area, and show that the GLA is actively working with its partners to create a new and dynamic place for people to live and work.
3.1 The Mayor is due to release a draft Housing Strategy, which will include an Equality Impact Assessment, for a three-month consultation in September 2017.
3.2 The Mayor’s Vision for a Diverse and Inclusive City was issued as a consultation draft in June 2017. The first chapter of this document is entitled a Great Place to Live and Priority outcome 1.1 refers to the delivery of affordable, accessible, decent homes. This scheme will ultimately deliver affordable homes on the Mayor’s land.
4.1 Following a previous unauthorised occupation experienced on the Webbs site there is a risk that occupation may occur prior to the site being transferred to the developer. Allowances have been made in the requested budget to secure the sites and to maintain regular visual security checks on the sites.
4.2 Should the contracting of the disposal of the site via the LDP not take place by November 2017, the work on the LDP procurement will be abortive and the site will need to be tendered under LDP2.
5.1 The Decision is seeking approval for the acquisition of three sites located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest and approval for a budget to acquire the sites. The acquisitions will be funded from the Housing Zone budget.
5.2 This Decision also requests approval for revenue expenditure totalling £454,700 to cover various costs within Webbs Industrial Site. Approval is also sought for the purchase of sites within the Waltham Forest Housing Zone (see part 2 for comments).
5.3 Revenue costs will be expended on:
i. Demolition and clearance of all building structures (£362,700 in 2018/19)
ii. Full replacement of the existing hoardings, including corporate GLA Homes for Londoners branding (21,000 in 2017/18)
iii. Legal advisor, undertaking due diligence, to appoint Development Partner (£58,000 in 2017/18)
iv. Undertaking financial options appraisals and valuation for the disposal (£13,000 in 2017/18)
5.4 This expenditure will be funded from the Blackhorse Road Acquisitions budget within the wider Housing & Land Programme budget and will be expended across both the 2017/18 and 2018/19 financial years as noted above. Confirmation of the future year funding for Demolition works will be subject to the finalisation and sign-off of the 2018/19 Revenue Budget by the Mayor.
6.1 Section 30 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (as amended) (GLA Act) gives the Mayor a general power to do anything which he considers will further one or more of the principal purposes of the GLA as set out in section 30(2) which are:
i. Promoting economic development and wealth creation in Greater London;
ii. Promoting social development in Greater London; and
iii. Promoting the improvement of the environment in Greater London
and, in formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought, officers confirm they have complied with the GLA’s related statutory duties to:
• pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people;
• consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons in Greater London, promote the reduction of health inequalities between persons living in Greater London, contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom and contribute towards the mitigation of or adaptation to climate change in the United Kingdom; and
• consult with appropriate bodies.
6.2 Sections 1 and 2 of this report indicate that the Mayor has the power to proceed to make the decisions as requested within this report.
The next steps following approval of this decision are summarised below. The timescales are based on estimates and are subject to negotiations with the vendors of the sites.
Signed decision document
MD2160 Sanger Acquisition (signed)
Supporting documents
MD2160 Sanger Acquisition Part 2