Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Programme for Renfrewshire Year 3 Update CaH 20 08 24
Renfrewshire Council · 20 August 2024
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 20 August 2024 and its agenda
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Communities and Housing Policy Board On: 20 August 2024 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Environment, Housing and Infrastructure ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Programme for Renfrewshire – Year 3 Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Report Summary 1.1 Renfrewshire Council’s Housing-Led Regeneration and Renewal Programme was approved by the Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board on 18 January 2022 with amended proposals for three of the eight regeneration areas also approved on 15 March 2022. 1.2 This programme is being taken forward as a key Council priority, designed to deliver maximum benefits for residents and with the active involvement of services across the Council and Community Planning partners, to deliver modern, high quality, energy efficient, affordable Council housing that will not only significantly enhance the Council’s housing stock but will also contribute to the wider transformation of communities across Renfrewshire. 1.3 As our plans for investment and improvement are developing, it is becoming clear that meeting Scottish Government Energy Efficiency targets will be particularly difficult in blocks where the Council are a minority owner. This report therefore sets out proposals to offer resident owners within regeneration areas the opportunity to sell to the Council and become a Council tenant in that same property, subject to qualifying criteria outlined further in the report. 1.4 The board are provided with regular updates on the Housing-Led regeneration and renewal programme in the service update reports throughout the course of each year. This annual report provides more detailed information and a summary of progress over the last year and also provides information around the governance structure in place with regards to officer membership and reporting methods for the programme Board and Thematic Groups established as part of the project delivery mechanisms.
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1.5 This report seeks authority to make amendments to the Council’s Acquisition Scheme for Private Housing, as set out in Section 5 of this report. __________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Communities and Housing Policy Board: 2.1 Notes the positive progress made in each of the eight regeneration and renewal areas within this ambitious ten-year programme. 2.2 Approves amendments to the Council’s Acquisition Scheme for Private Housing outlined in paragraph 5.4 below. __________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Progress Summary 3.1 The scope of regeneration activity and timescales for delivery differ in each of the regeneration areas across this ten-year programme, with some more complex than others. A phasing strategy was developed to take account of a number of factors including, delivery timescales, rehousing requirements, contractor availability, maximising grant support for owner participation and consideration of wider development constraints. The timeline for the Housing- Led Regeneration and Renewal programme was presented to the Board in August 2023 and is shown below with a vertical line added to highlight the position as at the end of June 2024. All regeneration areas remain on schedule as previously reported, with the exception of the delivery of newbuild homes for the first phase of the Broomlands area as detailed further in paragraph 4.5.4 below.
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Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Staff and resources Rehousing Strategy Demolition Investment Pilot Project Investment On-site Demolition Investment On-site Investment On-site Demolition (Phase 1) Demolition (Phase 2) Investment On-site New Build (Phase 1) Pre-contract (Phase 2) New Build (Phase 2) Demo (Ph 1) Investment Pre-contract New Build (Phase 1) Pre-contract (Ph 2) New Build (Phase 2) Rehousing (Ph 1) RH (Ph 2) Demolition (Ph 1) Demolition (Ph 2) Pre-contract (Ph 1) New Build (Ph 1) Pre-contract (Ph 2) NB (Ph 2) Demolition Pre-contract New Build D Investment Pre-contract Investment On-site 2030/31 2031/32 2029/30 2031/32 Approved August 2023 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28 2028/29 Applicable to all areas 2030/31 Auchentorlie Investment & Demolition 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28 2028/29 2029/30 2030/31 2031/32 Ferguslie/Broomlands Investment (inc pre-1919 tenements), Demolition & New Build 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28 2028/29 2029/30 2030/31 2031/32 Howard Street Area Investment & Demolition 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28 2028/29 2029/302021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2031/32 Howwood Road Area Investment, Demolition & New Build (including on school sites) 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28 2028/29 2029/30 2030/31 2031/32 Moorpark Investment 2026/27 2027/28 2028/29 2029/30 2030/312021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 2030/31 2031/32 Waverley Road Investment & Demolition 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28 2028/29 2029/30 2030/31 2031/32 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28 2028/29 2029/30 Thrushcraig Demolition & New Build 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2031/32 Springbank/Mossvale Investment, Demolition & New Build 2026/27 2027/28 2028/29 2029/30 2030/312021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 OwnershipConsolidation Inv Pre-Contract Ownership Consolidation Inv Pre-contract OwnershipConsolidation Ownership Consolidation Ownership Consolidation OwnershipConsolidation InvestmentOn-site Demolition RehousingStrategy Rehousing(Ph 1) Ownership Consolidation RehousingStrategy RehousingStrategy Rehousingstrategy Investment On-site Pre-Contract(Ph 1) InvestmentPre-contract Demo (Ph2) Stakeholder Engagement Benefits Realisation Stakeholder Engagement Benefits Realisation` Stakeholder Engagement Benefits Realisation Stakeholder Engagement Benefits Realisation Stakeholder Engagement Benefits Realisation Stakeholder Engagement Benefits Realisation Stakeholder Engagement Benefits Realisation Stakeholder Engagement Benefits Realisation Rehousing(Ph 2) OwnershipConsolidation RehousingStrategy Pre-Contract (Phase 1)
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3.2 Each regeneration area has a dedicated Housing Regeneration Officer and Development Officer with responsibility for the delivery of key actions, including the effective communication with tenants, residents, and private owners. The Council’s website has a dedicated Housing Regeneration and Renewal section, and this is updated regularly to ensure that residents can access current and up to date information as and when they require it. 3.3 A new approach to Community Neighbourhood Renewal is being established with community representatives, across Council Services and with third party partners to operate in parallel with the physical regeneration plans. The neighbourhood renewal approach will be tailored to the needs and circumstances of each area, going beyond housing and the immediate external environment, and taking account of broader issues such as links to health and wellbeing, access to outdoor space and sustainable travel and employment or training opportunities that maximise the benefits achievable for local residents. This approach aims to strengthen community voices and improve place-based decision making across all regeneration areas in Renfrewshire to enhance and measure the offering and impact of the programme. 4. Regeneration and Renewal Area Update 4.1 The annual Regeneration and Renewal update report provides an opportunity to highlight the progress that has been made in each of the regeneration areas, including successful negotiations for the acquisition of private properties required for demolition. 4.2 Discussions continue with owners across seven of the eight regeneration areas, where acquisition is required to facilitate demolition. Of the 89 privately owned properties identified for acquisition and demolition, 52 have been acquired by the Council, a further 7 are agreed and with legal services to conclude, 24 are at various stages of the negotiation process and 6 remain to be valued. Table 1 below highlights the current position across the seven areas where demolition is planned. Table 1 Total at Outset Acquired With Legal Services to conclude Valued and neg cont. Valuation to be instructed Auchentorlie 1 0 0 1 0 Howard Street 11 7 0 1 3 Thrushcraigs 6 3 0 3 0 Broomlands 16 9 1 6 0 Waverley 4 3 0 1 0 Springbank 36 20 6 7 3 Howwood Road 15 10 0 5 0 89 52 7 24 6
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4.3 Demolition will be carried out on a phased basis, in line with the rehousing and acquisition strategy for each regeneration area. Where newbuild housing is proposed on the cleared sites, a key objective of this programme is to deliver homes of a suitable type and size that will meet current and future needs and to enable existing households to remain in the area where they choose to do so. 4.4 As previously reported, all Council tenants affected by demolition will be offered suitable alternative accommodation in line with the Council’s housing allocation policy and will be entitled to apply for home-loss and disturbance payments, subject to qualification criteria, where the move is in accordance with the phasing strategy that facilitates this regeneration initiative. 4.5 Officers are reviewing the mixed tenure nature of blocks within retention and investment areas to identify any opportunities where the Council may want to consider increasing their ownership in some blocks where this would allow investment works to proceed. More information on the current ownership profile in each retention area is contained in the area updates detailed further below. 4.5.1 Auchentorlie, Paisley Investment & Retention Properties The Auchentorlie investment area includes 3 blocks in full Council ownership and 7 mixed tenure blocks where the investment proposals are subject to owner consultation and agreement to participate. The Housing Investment team are currently contacting owners in these blocks to discuss their individual circumstances, have conversations around the costs for improvement works and advise them of any available grants they may be eligible for, to assist them to participate in the investment programme for this area. A commission for landscaping design has been carried out in the Auchentorlie area that will take into consideration the boundary treatments, bin storage and recycling requirements as well as design of open areas/amenity spaces. A submission has been made to secure funding for owners in this area from Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Schemes (EES: ABS), where grants are made available to eligible owners to contribute towards the costs of energy efficiency improvement works. This funding is subject to qualifying criteria, with the proposed investment works subject to owner agreement. A range of energy efficient improvement options have been developed, with a view to facilitating an uptake in owner participation. The options available for the Auchentorlie area will be discussed with each of the 16 private owners in this retention area in the coming weeks.
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Pilot Project - 74 Seedhill Road In order to showcase the improvement works that will be delivered through investment in retained blocks, a pilot project has been identified at 74 Seedhill Road involving a range of preliminary investigations and surveys which have informed the detailed design and specification of works. The Building Warrant application process is underway, and works will commence on site following approval of the design and technical specification. We have been in contact with the tenants at this address to advise them of the extent of the programme of works internally and externally for this block and it is anticipated there may be the requirement for a period of temporary decant for 4 tenants to ensure the effective delivery of all improvement measures. Demolition Properties Members will note that a separate report is being considered by the Board in relation to the condition of the block identified for demolition within this regeneration area. All properties within 5, 7 and 9 Auchentorlie Quadrant are now vacant following the successful rehousing of Council tenants, in line with the rehousing strategy agreed for this regeneration area. 4.5.2 Howard Street Area, Paisley Investment & Retention Properties The Howard Street investment area includes 6 blocks in full Council ownership and 12 mixed tenure blocks where the investment proposals are subject to owner consultation and agreement to participate. Similar to the Auchentorlie area, a submission has been made to secure funding for owners in this area from Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Schemes (EES: ABS), where grants are made available to eligible owners to contribute towards the costs of energy efficiency improvement works. This funding is subject to qualifying criteria, with the proposed investment works subject to owner agreement. The Housing Investment team will contact owners in these blocks later this year, to discuss their individual circumstances, have conversations around the costs for improvement works and advise of any available grants they may be eligible for, to assist them to participate in the investment programme for this area. Demolition Properties The Howard Street area includes the demolition of 11 blocks of flats. 7 of 11 privately owned properties required to facilitate demolition have now been acquired by the Council and discussions are ongoing with the remaining 4 owners with a view to voluntarily acquiring these properties.
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Several phases of rehousing priority have been added in this area with 41 of the 66 properties now vacant, in line with the rehousing strategy agreed for this regeneration area. 4.5.3 Waverley Road, Paisley Investment & Retention Properties The Waverley Road investment area is majority Council owned with only one block in mixed tenure, however, investment proposals in that block remain subject to owner consultation and agreement to participate in the scheme of improvements. The Housing Investment team have been reviewing options for the blocks being retained on Waverley Road including options for new balconies where applicable. Once the specification of works for this area is agreed and costed, tenants and residents will be invited to a neighbourhood renewal event where the programme of works will be discussed in more detail and partner organisations can take the opportunity to offer their services and find out what residents would like to see included as part of the enhanced environmental improvements surrounding their homes. Demolition Properties The Waverley Road area includes 12 blocks for demolition. 3 of the 4 privately owned properties within the demolition blocks have now been acquired by the Council with negotiations with the last remaining owner ongoing. Several phases of rehousing priority have been added in this area with only a small number of remaining tenants requiring suitable alternative accommodation. This is in advance of the timeline set out for the rehousing strategy for this regeneration area. Given the increased number of vacant blocks within this area, arrangements are now being made to procure a contractor to deliver a programme of demolition for 8 of the 12 vacated blocks at this location. Procurement of a demolition contractor for these 8 blocks is underway with officers working with utility companies to organise the removal of gas and electricity meters from each property in advance of service disconnections. Regular visits are being carried out to ensure these vacant properties remain secure and identify and report any instances of fly tipping.
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4.5.4 Ferguslie/Broomlands, Paisley Investment & Retention Properties The Ferguslie/Broomlands investment area includes 82 privately owned properties across a number of blocks, with 3 in full Council ownership and 13 in mixed tenure (6 of these are Council minority ownership) where the investment proposals are subject to owner consultation and agreement to participate. Some of the blocks within this area are of traditional sandstone construction and the Housing Investment team are reviewing options and costs associated with the works required for these properties to enable them to be enhanced to meet the Energy Efficiency standards proposed. Once the specification of works for this area is agreed and costed, tenants and residents will be invited to a neighbourhood renewal event where the programme of works will be discussed in more detail and partner organisations can make themselves available to offer their services and find out what residents would like to see included as part of the enhanced environmental improvements for the areas surrounding their homes and into Ferguslie Gardens. Demolition Properties The Ferguslie/Broomlands area includes the demolition of 5 blocks of flats. 9 of the 16 privately owned properties required to facilitate demolition have now been acquired by the Council and discussions are ongoing with the remaining 7 owners with a view to voluntarily acquiring these properties in advance of demolition. Newbuild Housing It had originally been planned that a first phase of newbuild development consisting of 18 units at Carbrook Street would be delivered in advance of demolition within this area. Following a reduction in the Resource Planning Assumptions for Renfrewshire and the relatively high tendered costs for the Carbrook Street development, this project has been reprofiled within the draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan for 2025 – 2030 which is the subject of a separate report presented to this meeting of the Communities and Housing Board. Tender options for the development of the Carbrook Street site will be reviewed further following approval of the draft SHIP for 2025 – 2030 and reported to a future meeting of this Board.
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4.5.5 Howwood Road Area, Johnstone Investment & Retention Properties The Howwood Road investment area has 122 Council properties and 74 privately owned across 45 blocks. Investment proposals in mixed tenure blocks remain subject to owner consultation and agreement to participate in the scheme of improvements. This includes 5 blocks that are not included within our investment proposals as although they are within the regeneration and renewal boundary for the Howwood Road area, the Council has no ownership interest as these blocks are wholly privately owned. Private Sector Housing Grant from the Council is only available to owners within communal blocks where the Council also owns property within block (mixed tenure). Owners within the solely privately owned blocks have been made aware that they are unable to access PSHG assistance and officers will work with the owners to signpost them to advice and assistance from partner agencies where they indicate they would like this assistance. The Housing Investment team have been reviewing options for the blocks being retained in the Howwood Road area including consideration of options for enclosing the balconies to make the homes more energy efficient. Once the specification of works for this area is agreed and costed, tenants and residents will be invited to a drop in event locally to discuss the proposed programme of works in more detail. Neighbourhood Renewal Event Section 3.3 of this report highlighted a new approach being rolled out for Neighbourhood renewal and the Howwood Road area was selected as a pilot for this new approach, with a specific focus on promoting health and well- being, employability, and energy advice, along with community capacity building. The first Neighbourhood Renewal meeting for this area took place on 22nd May 2024 and was well attended and received by the local community with over 140 individuals in attendance. Linking in with the newbuild consultation event planned for this date, we were able to work collaboratively across Council services, with third sector partners to use the newbuild consultation event as a platform to launch the Neighbourhood Renewal Group for this area. The event provided tenants and residents with the opportunity to speak to Council officers and partners about the development plans and receive advice on matters such as employability, health and wellbeing and energy advice.
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Positive feedback was received regarding the newbuild development and the advice and assistance that was available at the event, including energy advice, health and wellbeing support, employability, and information on how to be involved in the project going forward. As part of this neighbourhood renewal process for this area, residents were asked for ideas or suggestions for the development of the former St. Davids school site as it is not envisaged that this will be developed for housing due to site constraints previously highlighted to the Board. A number of the ideas collated for consideration for the vacant site are listed below: • Garden area with benches • Outdoor learning area that could be utilised by local schools • Football park/pitches • Wooded or wild park with path network and space for the elderly to meet • Enclosed area for dogs/agility area. Another suggestion that has been considered and developed further since the event in May, is the use of a property for a local drop-in surgery where tenants and residents can speak with officers about the programme of works in the area and could potentially hold a number of advice or wellbeing surgeries to support or in association with the partners we are working with, across this area. A suitable centrally located property has been identified for this purpose and following completion of the required changes to facilitate the use as a drop in venue, officers will promote the location and times this service will be available to residents within the Howwood Road regeneration and renewal area. Newbuild Housing McTaggart Construction have been appointed to design and build 70 new homes on the site of the former Cochrane Castle school and land adjacent to the Highcraig Avenue shops. The development will provide a mix of property types, with many wheelchair-accessible and include a wide range of property types and sizes ranging from 1 to 5-bedroom homes. These new homes are part of the first phase of newbuild planned for this area and will be built to meet the highest standards in energy efficiency, coming complete with air source heat pumps and solar panels. As this is classed as a major development (50+ homes), two pre-application community consultation events have been held in May and June to inform the community of the proposals ahead of submission of the formal Planning Application in July. As originally reported to this Policy Board, rehousing of tenants displaced in this area will take place on a phased basis following completion of the first set of 70 newbuild homes, with phased demolition and at least one further phase of newbuild thereafter. Officers will soon commence the application process for households within the first demolition phase to allow a matching exercise to be undertaken for those who choose to remain within the area.
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Feedback from the local community at the consultation events highlighted concerns about the condition and appearance of the four retail units on Highcraig Avenue. Two of the four retail units are privately owned and operational, with the remaining units in Council ownership and currently void. The Assets and Estates team have approached the private owners of both units with a view to voluntarily acquiring these commercial units, however, negotiations have been unsuccessful to date, and it is likely voluntary acquisition of these units will not be possible in the short to medium term. Negotiations to voluntarily acquire these properties will continue in the meantime and any potential requirement for CPO will be presented to a future board. As part of the overall regeneration and ahead of Phase 2 of the newbuild programme, the Council are currently procuring a market feasibility and overview report to assess the suitability of demolishing the existing retail units to be replaced with 1-2 new retail units. On completion of this feasibility, the Regeneration Team will assess the options available to the Council. 4.5.6 Springbank/Mossvale, Paisley Investment & Retention Properties The Springbank/Mossvale investment area includes 31 Council properties and 66 privately owned properties across 6 mixed tenure blocks and one where the Council have no ownership interest. Investment proposals are subject to owner consultation and agreement to participate and like the Howwood Road area, where we have a fully privately owned block, officers will work with these owners to signpost them to advice and assistance from partner agencies, where they indicate they would like this assistance. Once the specification of works for this area is agreed and costed, tenants and residents will be invited to a neighbourhood renewal event where the programme of works can be discussed in more detail and partner organisations can make themselves available to offer their services and find out what residents would like to see included as part of the enhanced environmental improvements for the areas surrounding their homes. Demolition Properties The Springbank/Mossvale area includes the demolition of 9 blocks of flats. 16 properties within these blocks remain in private ownership at this time, however positive negotiations continue as we seek rehousing opportunities for some of the residents who are being displaced as part of this project prior to the blocks being demolished.
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Following the successful rehousing and acquisition of privately owned properties within the block at 1 – 19 Mossvale Square, officers were able to take forward the advance demolition of this block which had begun to attract anti-social behaviour. Officers from the regeneration and development team are working collaboratively with the wardens and neighbourhood services and Police and Fire Scotland to highlight and address any concerns raised regarding vacant dwellings as they await demolition. Newbuild Housing On completion of demolition, a feasiblity study will be carried out, together with a site investigation, to assess the site ahead of the tender issue for new build construction. Due to the size and scale of development for the Springbank area, re-housing of tenants and private acquisitions have been phased to allow the clearance of land for each phase of newbuild development. Officers have weekly drop-in surgeries within the Beechwood Community Centre to be available for tenants and residents to answer any questions or queries they have regarding the regeneration programme for this area. Housing options advice is offered to tenants and residents of demolition properties on a phased basis in line with the rehousing strategy for the Springbank area. 4.5.7 Thrushcraigs, Paisley Demolition Properties The Thrushcraigs area includes the demolition of all 16 blocks of flats within the regeneration boundary. 3 of the 6 privately owned properties required to facilitate demolition have now been acquired by the Council and discussions are ongoing with the remaining owners with a view to voluntarily acquiring these properties prior to demolition. Several phases of rehousing priority have been added with 40 of the 96 properties now vacant, in line with the rehousing strategy agreed for this regeneration area. The Thrushcraigs area includes a number of properties that are utilised by Homeless Services as temporary accommodation. Given the current high level of demand for this type and size of accommodation, the rehousing strategy for this area has been amended to allow ongoing use of this facility at this time. This will be reviewed on a regular basis while actively rehousing tenants from other blocks at this location and proceeding with the acquisition strategy to allow clearance of the blocks for future newbuild development.
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Newbuild Housing On completion of demolition, a feasiblity study will be carried out, together with a site investigation, to assess the site ahead of the tender issue for new build construction. 4.5.8 Moorpark, Renfrew The Moorpark investment area has a high proportion of private owners with 144 private flats across 75 blocks, 16 of which where the Council have no ownership interest. The Council have 175 properties within the area with full ownership in 8 of the 75 blocks. To ensure the successful delivery of the investment programme, it will be essential to reach agreement with a number of owners to ensure as many mixed tenure blocks progress with investment as possible. Given investment work are not scheduled until later in the ten-year programme, officers have developed an initial action plan for this area, identifying areas for improvement in relation to the external environment and roads that will be addressed in advance of the wider investment programme. Officers are also reviewing the Council’s ownership and block make up in the area to identify any ownership consolidation opportunities that could assist the future delivery of the investment programme. As we approach the delivery timescales for this area, officers will explore funding opportunities available at that time, to assist owners in mixed tenure blocks to reduce the cost of participation. 5. Acquisition Scheme for Private Housing 5.1 The Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board on 20 August 2019 approved the Acquisition of Private Housing Scheme to be overseen by the then Director of Communities, Housing & Planning. This Scheme formed part of the HRA Capital Investment Programme and was to be targeted at the purchase of properties which would meet identified needs and increase the supply of good quality Council housing in areas where there is need and recognised demand. The Housing and Community Safety Policy Board on 13 May 2014 approved the Last-in-the-block Sale Policy which set out arrangements for the disposal of Council properties which become void, at no less than market value, where the property is the last one owned by the Council in a block of five or more flats. 5.2 Amendments to both the Acquisition of Private Housing Scheme and the Last- in-the-block Sale Policy in respect of Housing Regeneration Areas were approved by the Communities and Housing Policy Board on 16 August 2022. The sale of the last house in a block in certain circumstances in accordance with the Last-in-the-block Sale and Acquisition Policy have been highly useful negotiating positions for the Council in agreeing the voluntary acquisition of properties to deliver the Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Programme.
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5.3 The Housing-Led Regeneration and Renewal Programme is an opportunity to meet Scottish Government Energy Efficiency targets within the blocks being retained in Housing Regeneration Areas. However, it is recognised that the costs of these measures are significant, even when grant funding is applicable. Accordingly, authorisation is sought for the amendments to the Council’s Acquisition Scheme for Private Housing outlined in paragraph 5.4 below enabling the Council to offer resident owners within Housing Regeneration areas the opportunity to sell to the Council and become a Council tenant in their existing home. 5.4 It proposed for the Communities and Housing Policy Board amendments to the Council’s Acquisition Scheme for Private Housing, in full accordance with the approved Council Scheme of Delegation and Financial Regulations, to authorise the voluntary acquisition of privately-owned properties in mixed tenure blocks where: • the privately-owned properties are located within Housing Regeneration Area boundaries and are situated in a mixed-tenure block that has been identified for retention and capital investment; and • the owner-occupiers are unable or unwilling to contribute their share of the costs of works and want to become Council tenants. The Council would acquire these privately-owned properties to allow investment works to progress and the existing owner-occupiers would continue to reside in their existing properties with them converting to a Council tenancy. This would apply where the privately owned property is situated within a mixed tenure block that has been identified for retention and capital investment and the owner-occupier(s) are unable or unwilling to contribute their share of the works costs and with them choosing to become Council Tenants and allow investment works to progress. 5.5 Presently, where an owner is unable or unwilling to contribute their share of the costs for the investment to their block and to allow the improvement works to proceed this would result in no works being carried out to the block. This ability to acquire additional privately owned properties within mixed tenure blocks In Housing Regeneration Areas identified for retention and investment as part of the wider Housing-Led Regeneration and Renewal Programme will be a valuable negotiating position for officers that will allow investment works to proceed, as well as facilitating the owner to remain within their home as a tenant and therefore benefitting from the investment works. More widely, this will also benefit tenants and residents through facilitating the delivery of improvement works where they otherwise may have been undeliverable.
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6. Programme Governance 6.1 To ensure robust programme governance, a Housing-Led Regeneration and Renewal Programme Board was established and is attended by Chief Officers and senior officers from across Council Services, meeting quarterly to monitor the programme’s performance. This information is then reported to Communities and Housing Policy Board, within the regular Service Update Reports and the annual update each August. 6.2 Four Thematic Groups have been established as detailed above, with membership and remit recently refreshed as we move from the planning phase into the implementation stages of the programme. These groups of 2nd and 3rd tier officers meet quarterly and more regularly if required. Thematic Groups Attendee Remit: • Stay informed about how the HR&R impacts service delivery and feedback opportunities/constraints to service and HR&R team. • Act as a key link to service delivery departments to review designs, proposals, and consultations from external consultants on the HR&R programme. • Identify opportunities for services and work collaboratively to contribute to place based activities in regeneration areas. • Identify and agree benefits monitoring and evaluation indicators tied to corporate objectives. • Attend Neighbourhood Renewal Groups where necessary. __________________________________________________________________________________
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Implications of the Report 1. Financial – The financial background to this investment programme was detailed in the report to Council on 17 December 2020 by the Chief Executive, Director of Communities and Housing and Director of Finance and Resources highlighting that it will be funded through financial sustainable borrowing on the HRA. A strategic review of the 30-year HRA business plan model confirmed there was sufficient headroom to support this investment programme. The review identified £100 million of additional investment capacity which can be relied upon for long term planning and investment purposes, and this is subject to ongoing review as part of the annual update of the HRA 30-year business plan. The acquisition of private homes to add to Council stock will be funded from the income received from the sale of last in the block properties, as previously approved by the Board. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community/Council Planning • Our Renfrewshire is well – this investment programme is contributing to improved wellbeing and quality of life for residents. • Our Renfrewshire is thriving – this investment programme will deliver a diverse range of economic and community benefit packages over the lifetime of the project. • Our Renfrewshire is safe – ensuring our neighbourhoods are safe and attractive places to live. 4. Legal – work will be required with respect to acquisitions, disposals, conveyancing, and title changes as necessary. 5. Property/Assets – as we progress through the phases of the investment programme, there is an element of property acquisitions and disposals and demolition of some existing properties as approved by the Board. 6. Information Technology – N/A 7. Equality & Human Rights – (a) The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website.
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8. Health & Safety – N/A 9. Procurement – a Procurement Strategy has been developed to ensure the delivery of the investment, demolition and newbuild programmes include locally deliverable community benefits from each contract. 10. Risk – a risk register has been developed to consider various risks including those relating to financial and procurement as referred to in the implications section of this report. This risk register is monitored and regularly updated throughout the delivery of the Housing led Regeneration and Renewal programme. 11. Privacy Impact – N/A 12. Climate Risk – the investment programme will contribute towards meeting the Council’s targets on climate change. 13. Children’s Rights – None 14. COSLA Policy Position – N/A _________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers Report to the Communities and Housing Policy Board, 22 August 2023, ‘Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Programme for Renfrewshire – Year 2 Update’ Report to the Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, 16 August 2022, ‘Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Programme for Renfrewshire – Year 1 Update’ Report to the Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, 15 March 2022, ‘Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Programme for Renfrewshire’ Report to the Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, 18 January 2022, ‘Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Programme for Renfrewshire’ Report to the Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, 18 May 2021, ‘Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Programme for Renfrewshire’ Report to Council, 17 December 2020, ‘Housing-led Regeneration and Renewal Programme for Renfrewshire’ Report to Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, 20 August 2019, ‘Acquisition of Private Housing’ Report to Housing and Community Safety Policy Board, 13 May 2014, ‘Single Council Dwellings in Larger Common Blocks’ ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Jennifer Murdoch, Housing Regeneration and Development Manager (acting) Email: Jennifer.murdoch@renfrewshire.gov.uk