Waverley Borough Council Committee System - Committee Document
Meeting of the Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 21/01/2002
ROWLAND HOUSE, CRANLEIGH - RE-DEVELOPMENT OR REFURBISHMENT
APPENDIX H
WAVERLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL
COMMUNITY OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – 21ST JANUARY 2002
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Title
:
ROWLAND HOUSE, CRANLEIGH - RE-DEVELOPMENT OR REFURBISHMENT
[Ward Affected: Cranleigh West]
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Summary and Purpose
This report reminds the Committee of proposals to redevelop or refurbish Rowland House, Cranleigh. In order to implement any proposals it will be necessary to gain vacant possession of much of the property concerned. This report, therefore, proposes that the Council should take a strategic decision to not re-let any further dwellings at Rowland House, as and when vacancies occur. Furthermore, it is proposed that officers should consider offering any Ivy Hall Bungalows to existing tenants of Rowland House.
At this stage there are no proposals to re-house present residents in other premises.
The resource implications relate to the rent loss during the period from now until the commencement of works. There are no environmental, “Opportunities for All”, Crime and Disorder or Asset Management implications.
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Introduction
1. At its meeting in January 2001, the former Housing and Community Welfare Committee agreed a number of matters to enable progress to be made in relation to the future re-development of Rowland House, Cranleigh. Provision has also been made within the Housing Revenue Account forward Capital Programme for resources to fund redevelopment/refurbishment proposals. The Council has yet to determine the nature of the redevelopment of Rowland House and during 2002, reports will be submitted to Committee in this regard.
2. Consultant architects are in the process of being appointed to carry out a feasibility study to advise the Council on whether it would be best to re-develop or refurbish the premises, together with details of how the proposals could be accomplished in terms of layout and design. It is anticipated that the architects will be reporting back to a future meeting of the Executive.
3. At Rowland House there are 55 units of accommodation, four of which were un-occupied as at 26th November 2001. Two of these units of accommodation are for staff. In addition, there are 6 bungalows – one of which is staff accommodation. This gives some idea of the numbers that will need to be re-housed in due course to enable the re-development or refurbishment to take place.
4. The Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme contains financial provision across a number of years with the intention of starting the redevelopment programme during the financial year 2003/2004.
5. In order for any redevelopment or major refurbishment to happen, a major portion of Rowland House will need to be vacated by tenants. Clearly, any re-housing of existing tenants and staff will be dealt with sensitively nearer the time.
6. In order to facilitate a start on site and in order to minimise disruption to occupiers, it is proposed that the Council should take a strategic decision sooner rather than later to
not
re-let units of accommodation on a permanent basis as and when they become vacant. There may, however, be occasion where it is possible to let a unit of accommodation on a temporary basis pending the redevelopment.
7. Such a decision will:
·
minimise disruption to people who otherwise might have moved into Rowland House;
·
provide officers with a better opportunity to offer appropriate alternative accommodation and some choice to existing tenants, when the time comes to find them alterative accommodation; and
·
bring greater certainty about the re-development programme and a start on site.
8. It is also proposed that where existing residents indicate that they would wish to move elsewhere, your officers be authorised to facilitate such a transfer. However, it is not proposed to take a pro-active approach to re-housing at this stage.
Resource Implications
9. The resource implications relate to the loss of rent income as a result of this decision.
Other Implications
10. There are no environmental, “Opportunities for All”, Crime and Disorder or Asset Management issues at this stage.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Committee considers the proposal contained in this report and advises the Executive that:
1. officers be authorised to
not
re-let units of accommodation at Rowland House, Cranleigh;
2. officers be authorised to give some preference where an existing tenant of Rowland House indicates that he/she wishes to be re-housed elsewhere; and
3. should vacancies occur in the bungalows, officers be authorised to consider how best to use them for re-locating existing tenants/staff.
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Background Papers
(DoH)
There are no background papers (as defined by Section 100D(5) of the Local Government Act 1972) relating to this report.
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CONTACT OFFICER:
Name:
Mr D January
Telephone:
01483 - 523361
Email:
djanuary@waverley.gov.uk
