Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council Manydown Executive Committee Meeting

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no urgent items.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Cabinet considered a report which provided an update on the progress of the Manydown North project.  The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property provided a summary of the report.  He stated that July was a notable month with approval for outline planning permission for a new garden community at Manydown North being granted and the completion of contracts with the preferred development partner Urban&Civic and the Wellcome Trust.  He added that during consideration of the planning application, whilst there was support for the development of Manydown North, some concerns were raised about the impact of construction works on the road network as a result of building works involved in the project which officers would look to address if possible.  The next stage would be to work with Urban&Civic on the planning strategy for Manydown following approval of the outline planning permission, and move to the submission of key phase documents for each phase of development which would include design codes and delivery plans before moving to the reserved matters applications for each phase. 

He further highlighted other priorities such as the management, funding and maintenance of the country park, completion of the Section 106 agreement, and public communications, with the publication of a fact sheet to update on the project.  

He also updated Cabinet on the delivery process to deliver Manydown Garden Communities North which included the Dev Co Interim Business Plan for the next 12 months which would include the development of the Overarching Business Plan and Phase 1 Business Plan.  He added that the board comprised of officers of BDBC and HCC and Urban&Civic.  He added that the long standing joint BDBC and HCC officer board, Top Co, would continue to review the work of Dev Co to deliver the new homes on Manydown.

Referring to the Manydown land now that outline planning consent had been approved, he stated that the next stage was to draw down the development land in accordance with the Option Agreement.  He also highlighted the review of Manydown programme governance arrangements and the proposals for governance arrangements for Southern Manydown.  In taking forward the Manydown project he stated that it was important to learn lessons from the completion of project milestones to take forward. 

With regard to the climate emergency, the importance of environmental sustainability was highlighted as a core value of Manydown and consideration was being given to establishing a Manydown Standard.

Concluding his summary of the report, he highlighted the recovery of £1.2 million of historic procurement costs and cost overruns to the value of £0.65 million due to the impact of Covid-19 of which would partly be recoverable when the freehold was acquired.

Resolved:     That the Manydown Executive Committee

1)     note the progress made on the Manydown project

2)     note the comments of the Manydown Overview Committee

3)     note the strategy set out in the confidential Appendix 1 of the report and approve the recommendations contained in the same Appendix 1.

4)     approve the Manydown Programme Governance structure on the basis set out at Appendix 2 of the report.

Reasons for the decision

To continue to pursue the development of Manydown North and secure the better planning of the area in accordance with the Full Council resolution on 12 July 2012. 

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property introduced the report which provided an update on the progress of the Southern Manydown project and outlined further proposals to promote the land for development.  It also addressed future governance arrangements including liaison with the main landowner, Society of Merchant Venturers. 

He stated that a detailed Project Management Plan was being finalised which would include matters such as masterplanning, technical studies, objectives and viability issues.  He added that a West of Basingstoke Working Group had been established which involved senior members and officers, to provide leadership and establish a vision for western Basingstoke which would include Southern Manydown and Junction 7 of the M3.

He further highlighted the funding that had been received under the MHCLG Garden and Village Town Capacity Fund which had enabled the work necessary in relation to technical studies for Manydown North, and stated that a further bid of £1.63 million had been submitted for Manydown South which would help in relation to masterplanning and design, technical studies particularly heritage, landscape, ecology and transport, and innovation with a case for an ecology hub, site access, and early stage infrastructure studies.

He concluded his summary by highlighting the potential for Southern Manydown to be innovative in developing environmental sustainable solutions, particularly in relation to net zero carbon development, and the development of an engagement and communications plan to continue effective engagement with all key stakeholders and residents during the planning and promotion of the project.

Resolved: That the Manydown Executive Committee:

1)      Note the progress made on the southern Manydown project.

2)      Note the comments of the Manydown Overview Committee.

3)      Note the Southern Manydown update presentation at Appendix 1 of the report (confidential).

4)      Approve the Southern Manydown Governance structure on the basis set out at Appendix 2 of the report.

5)      Note the submission of the 2020/21 MHCLG Garden Village and Town Capacity Fund request as set out in paragraph 5 of the report.

6)      Delegate authority to the Project Director Manydown in consultation with the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property to accept the award of any Garden Village and Town Capacity Funding.

7)      Approve the release of funds from the ‘Grants Received not allocated account’ to the Housing Reserve (Manydown) once received from MHCLG for Garden Village and Town Capacity Funding, and the release as required up to the maximum of the sum received and accepted in VI above with the approval of the Executive Director of Corporate Services for utilisation within the Manydown project.

Reason for the decision:

To continue to pursue the development of Manydown and secure the better planning of the area in accordance with the Full Council resolution on 12 July 2012 by establishing a project to support the proper planning of infrastructure at southern Manydown and a strategy to promote the land for inclusion in the Local Plan Update process.