Hampshire County Council

Executive Member, Policy & Resources Item

21 September 2005

Existing John Hunt of Everest Community School, Popley

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory

(Summary of CONFIDENTIAL decision)

1

Summary

1.1

The following decisions are sought:

That approval be given to

i)

Declare the whole of the John Hunt of Everest School site located in Popley, Basingstoke surplus to the requirements of the County Council to enable its phased sale for redevelopment as the principal means of funding the construction of the replacement Everest Community College in North Popley; and

ii)

the selection of the County Council's preferred developer for the Phase 1 land at the existing John Hunt of Everest School site and that the Director of Property Business and Regulatory (Head of Estates) be authorised to settle detailed terms and conditions of sale, including such adjustment to the purchase price that may be agreed following minor amendments to the scheme of development.

2

Reasons

2.1

The decision to provide a replacement for the John Hunt of Everest Community School, Popley on part of the County Council owned North Popley site was approved by the Executive member of Policy and Resources at its meeting on 10 June 2004. At the same meeting a Project Appraisal for the replacement school project was approved, including a funding package for the project which proposed the full use of sale proceeds from the sale of the existing school site to fund a substantial part of the project cost. The Phase 1 land can be released in advance of the relocation since the school benefits from a surplus of playing fields and the early sale will assist the cash flow for constructing the new school.

2.2

Whilst the release of the school site for development forms a fundamental part of the procurement strategy for the school, it is also regarded as the first phase of the County Council's contribution to the regeneration of Popley with the proposals for this site and North Popley forming the core of the Action Plan for North Basingstoke prepared in conjunction with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council as the Local Planning Authority. The school site together with the North Popley site provides a significant opportunity to make a step change in terms of the quality of the built environment and balance of housing in terms of mix and tenure.

2.3

This decision supports the following Aims of the Corporate Strategy

Aim 1 - Maximising life opportunities by the sale of the site to support the early provision of a replacement secondary school as part of the North Popley Development Area.

Aim 2 - Stewardship of the environment by the redevelopment of the site and the full reinvestment of the sale proceeds to provide a replacement school facility demonstrates a strategy to make effective and efficient use of our land resources whilst seeking a high quality of design.

Aim 3 - Achieving economic prosperity - the proposed redevelopment of the school site will provide a mix of house types in terms of both tenure and size to meet the demands of the local housing market. The sale of the site will allow a full reinvestment of the proceeds into the provision of a replacement secondary school.

Aim 4 - Building strong and safe communities by the proposed development, given the range of housing type and tenure, will allow for a balanced community to develop.

Aim 5 - Improving services by the reinvestment of the sale proceeds to provide a replacement community secondary school.

3

Other options considered and rejected

3.1

Other submitted schemes and offers received for the Phase 1 land

4

Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker or other Executive Member consulted

4.1

None

5

Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1

None

6

Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1

Not applicable

Approved by:

..........................

Date of decision:

.........................

Councillor T K Thornber