Housing Development Strategy - Report - Page 11
Redevelopment and regeneration - continued
Proactive Acquisition
Working in partnership with the Council’s Economic Development and Regeneration teams we
have taken the decision to proactively intervene in the redevelopment of strategic sites within the
district. The programme explores housing development opportunities which require the acquisition
of property or land and seek to address a wider regeneration aspiration throughout the district.
Available assets are reviewed, and business cases are formulated outlining potential opportunities.
The Council remains mindful of the impact of this programme on the private market in terms
of private developers, land values and properties prices. The approach to intervene will only be
taken where there are additional benefits which can be realised from purchases and there is a
wider strategic ambition which can be achieved through this process. Proactive acquisition will
provide redevelopment opportunities which may be less financially lucrative to the HRA than other
development opportunities, however these proposals will be considered in conjunction with the
potential social benefit and wider financial efficiency savings they may deliver to the Council. Such
acquisitions will include former Right to Buy purchases on the open market which fit within our
portfolio as well as sitting within existing estates etc to minimise maintenance and management
costs.
The Private Sector Housing Team is committed to improving the standards of private housing
and the acquisition of a property as a sanction is an essential aspect of their current policy.
This programme seeks to assist the team with their ambition to remove unsafe or unoccupied
properties from the private market whilst also offering a redevelopment opportunity and providing
much needed affordable housing.
Our Actions
12 - Deliver a range of
accommodation to help our
partners meet their statutory
responsibilities and reduce the
burden on the public purse.
This would include a proactive
Right to Buy buy-back where
appropriate former council
housing comes on the market.
13 – Increase the number of
units affected or created by the
redevelopment programme to
30 per annum by 2021.
Example 2: 560 London Road
South – Lowestoft
Close co-operation across the Housing
Service has sought to address poor quality
HMO properties in our district. Following
the success of this substandard HMO
coming onto the market and being
acquired by us, we have now provided
a high quality home to 6 individuals.
The building is managed by a specialist housing partner Solo
Housing, which helps single people in the region through supported
accommodation and lodgings to enable them to develop skills to gain
independence. The investment came from the HRA and the work was
undertaken by our Maintenance team.
Example 1: Former Post Office – Lowestoft
The property and surrounding site was purchased
in 2018 by Waveney District Council. The project
scope includes the design and delivery of a town
centre regeneration development seeking to
provide a mixed-use scheme of commercial and
residential accommodation.
Demolition of some structures to the rear will
be required. The proposed development will
require an element of conversion and new build
construction. This scheme received approval to the
pre-application stage in July 2019.
11
