Hampshire County Council

Executive Member for Policy and Resources Item

7 December 2007

Binfields Site 7, Binfields Farm Lane, Chineham, Basingstoke

Report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

(Summary of an EXEMPT decision)

1

Summary

1.1

The following decisions are sought:

That approval be given to:

a) entering into an agreement with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for the acquisition of vehicular and pedestrian access rights to Binfields Site 7, which comprises approximately 0.6ha (1.5 ac) of land and to declare the site surplus to the requirements of the County Council; and

b) the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Head of Estates) be authorised to settle the detailed terms and conditions of the agreement and to proceed with an appropriate disposal strategy thereafter, involving sale with the benefit of an Outline Planning Permission.

2

Reason

2.1

Securing access rights will help facilitate the sale of the County Council's land for development which will contribute to the corporate strategy aims of:

· Enhancing our quality of place by enabling the County Council's vacant land to come forward for development; and

· Hampshire safer and more secure for all as development of the County Council's land will provide surveillance of the adjoining proposed multi-use games area to be built on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council land.

3

Other options considered and rejected

3.1

All alternative vehicular and pedestrian access options have been considered. These involved either taking vehicular access from Binfields Farm Lane (opposite the entrance to Great Binfields Primary School) which has been discounted on highway safety grounds, or access from the south which involves removal of part of a high quality tree belt and crossing a statutory footpath, which is unlikely to secure planning approval. In addition the option of disposal to the adjoining Hotel has been explored although the likelihood of this option occurring is remote.

4

Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker or other Executive Member consulted - None

5

Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - None

6

Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - None