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 8 September 2020 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The committee considered a report which provided an update on the progress of the Manydown project.  The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property summarised the report, highlighting key areas.  He stated that good progress had been made and the joint venture partnership with Urban&Civic and the Wellcome Trust was in place.  Important future objectives were to accomplish detailed planning, resolve the S106 agreement and proposals for the Country Park.  He added that the Manydown Development Vehicle (MDV) was in place and a priority was to bring forward the MDV’s Overarching Business Plan.  The MGC LLP Business Plan and Budget for 2021 had also been approved by the two councils at the last board meeting.

MGC LLP would be completing work on proposals relating to Affordable Housing and the Manydown Standard for review by the MGC board and discussion with the joint venture partners.

He further summarised the comments of the Manydown Overview Committee following its consideration of a project update report.  Comments related to passivhaus, the timeline for reserved matters applications, sustainability, tree planting if buildings could not be net zero carbon, utility channels to limit disruption, management of the Country Park, archaeological surveys and ownership of the Manydown Standard.  He added that on a site the size of Manydown co-ordination of utilities was important, there was a desire to push for electric development and the planting of trees and an aspiration to increase biodiversity.  He confirmed that following achieving outline planning consent and the land drawn down process it was anticipated that infrastructure works would begin by the end of the year with the potential to start house building later in 2022.  He added that the management of the Country Park would considered as part of the overarching business plan of the MDV.

He further confirmed that in relation to the Southern Manydown project, representations had been submitted in response to the Issues and Options consultation of the Local Plan Update.

Resolved: The Committee

1)         Note the progress made on the Manydown Programme.

2)         Note the comments of the Manydown Overview Committee.

3)         Approve the MGC LLP Business Plan and Budget 2021 at confidential appendix 1 of the report.

4)         Note the Vision and Development Principles for Southern Manydown at confidential appendix 3 of the report.

Reasons for the decision:

The MGC LLP Business Plan and Budget 2021 is an integral part of the contractual relationship between the councils and its partners in MDV LLP in order 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.