Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Safety.

Decision

That Dorset Council enter into a contract with Homes England for the grant of £808,555 to support the Bridport Cohousing Development on terms to be approved by the Monitoring Officer and Section.151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Safety.

Reason for Decision

To support the community led development of 53 affordable homes.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Safety presented a report on the Bridport Cohousing project which had planning permission to develop 53 affordable homes on land adjacent to Bridport Hospital.

Members noted that Bridport Cohousing has been working on this development for ten years. Homes England were supportive of the project to develop housing and this would be the largest affordable cohousing scheme in the country.

Cabinet was advised that in order to ensure this development was viable Homes England had awarded £808,855 to Dorset Council from the Community Housing Fund Infrastructure Grant. These homes would be developed by Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA) and the grant would be passed to them to carry out the required works.

The Community Housing Fund would close at the end of March 2020 and the planning permission also required work to start on site in January 2020.  Members were further advised that the building contract  was planning to start on site in January 2020. 

The Chairman welcomed Cllr Somper, Chairman of People Scrutiny Committee, who advised that although this report had not been formally considered by the committee, as its Chairman, she welcomed and supported the proposal and recommendation.

Decision

That Dorset Council enter into a contract with Homes England for the grant of £808,555 to support the Bridport Cohousing Development on terms to be approved by the Monitoring Officer and Section.151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Safety.

Reason for Decision

To support the community led development of 53 affordable homes.