The land adjoining 14 Horseshoes Lane, Weston Colville was the subject of a Decision Notice dated 13.4.2017 for the approval of the sale of land, following the identification of this site as one of 100 self-build plots in our District.
The first Decision Notice was drafted following obtaining Outline Planning Permission ref: S/2593/16/OL and this site was subsequently marketed twice 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.
The first period of open marketing, across multiple platforms and directed both to the existing register and to the general public, resulted in no bids being received. The site was then remarketed in July 2018 and only one bid was received – well below the expected value. Accordingly, as we could not provide written notification from our marketing agents that best value had been achieved, this bid was rejected.
We have now been informed by our marketing agents, Carter Jonas, that we have received a more realistic offer. The applicant is a self-builder and intends to build a Net Zero Carbon econ home produced by the company he works for Net Zero Homes (based in Six Mile Bottom).
We will shortly receive written notification from Carter Jonas, that the obligation to achieve “best price” in accordance with S.123 of The Local Government Act 1972 has been discharged.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Wards affected: Balsham;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 28/11/2018
Decision due: 28 November 2018 by Lead Cabinet member for Housing
Lead member: Lead Cabinet member for Housing
Lead director: Health and Environmental Services Director
Department: Housing
Contact: Laurence Castle, Self/Custom Build Regional Manager Email: laurence.castle@scambs.gov.uk.
Consultees
We have previously discussed with Housing Management and Housing Strategy and consulted with local members and the Parish Council.
Purpose of Report: The intended home to be built is of modular construction and includes features such as rainwater harvesting and solar panels on the roof. As stated above, we have previously marketed this site on two occasions for ample periods of time and it failed to receive adequate offers, following a closed bidding process. Carter Jonas have recommended that the offer we have received be accepted as it falls with the range of values we expected to achieve for the site. Carter Jonas have confirmed that the site has been tested on the marker and is "almost at the point of being stigmatised from being on the market too long should it have to come back to the market for a third time".