Decision details

The land to the north west of 14 Macaulay Avenue, Great Shelford was the subject of a Decision Notice dated 05.02.2018, for the approval of the sale of land, following the identification of this site as one of 100 Self-Build/Custom Build plots in our District.

The first Decision Notice was drafted following obtaining Outline Planning Permission ref: S/1769/17/OL and this site was subsequently marketed by Carter Jonas, in accordance with the requirement placed on Local Authorities to adhere to S.123 of the Local Government Act 1972, which seeks to ensure that public assets i.e. residential building plots, are disposed of at ‘best price’ (market value) to safeguard the tax payers’ interests and prevent any possible Judicial Challenge.

Following a period of open marketing, across multiple platforms and directed both to the existing register and to the general public, commencing on 22.02.2018 up to and including the date of the tender, 15 parties expressed an interest and were provided with the relevant bidding documents. Only one bid was submitted directly to the Council by 18.05.2018.

This bid of £405,000 was received from a Cambridge based builder/developer for the whole site (3 plots).

We have received notification from Carter Jonas, dated 19.06.2018, that the obligation to achieve ‘best price’ in accordance with S.123 of The Local Government Act 1972 has been discharged. They have advised that Custom Build would be the best option for this site due to its restricted single access and the need to lay all services to the individual plots. Once this site is built out to Custom Build level, all plots will be offered out for purchase from our applicants register.

Approval granted for the sale of HRA owned land to the north west of 14 Macaulay Avenue, Great Shelford which has outline planning permission for the erection of 3 detached dwellings for the best value price of £405,000.

Sale of land is in accordance with the approved business case, with receipts invested into the Housing Revenue Account.

Option 1: Not to approve the sale of land for the bid of £405,000.

Reason for Rejection: Part of our offer as a Right to Build Vanguard was the identification and promotion of 100 self-build plots in our district. We have an existing approved business case. The funding of new affordable council housing is dependent upon onward plot sales.