Minutes:
The Director of City Regeneration and Development submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report which provided an update on the Future City Centre Vacancy and Dereliction Programme and set out proposed parameters for the Homes on Upper Spaces for Everyone (HOUSE) Programme.
The Director highlighted the significant impact that vacancy and dereliction had across the city and stated that the Vacancy toolkit had been developed as a proactive, Council led suite of interventions to address the rising levels of dereliction and support social, economic and environmental growth. She reminded the Committee that the toolkit included the Vacant to Vibrant City Centre and Citywide Schemes, strategic investments and a citywide housing-led regeneration scheme.
She reported that, in order to address vacant upper floor spaces within the city, Council officers had been working on the development of a HOUSE programme, which would aim to help address this issue by repurposing vacant spaces for residential use. The Committee was provided with an overview of the work that had been undertaken in relation to the development of the proposed HOUSE programme and the associated business case, which included research and data analysis, consultation and engagement, and the potential delivery model.
The Director recommended that, subject to funding, a capital grant scheme be developed and that the HOUSE programme operate as a pilot within the city centre with the potential to expand citywide at a later stage. She outlined the proposed parameters of the programme and provided the Committee with information in respect of potential cost requirements, benefits and outcomes, estimated returns and potential future funding.
Proposal
Moved by Councillor Groogan,
Seconded by Councillor R. McLaughlin,
Resolved – That the Committee agrees that a report be brought back on the potential for the HOUSE Programme to deliver an intermediate rent model, including information on viability and advice from Legal Services.
During discussion, in response to a Member’s question, the Director advised that further consideration would be given in regard to the parameters limiting the maximum number of units that could be supported through the scheme.
In response to further Members’ questions, the Director advised that further information would be brought back to the Committee in relation to the potential for the Council to utilise the recently acquired asset on 33-39 Royal Avenue as a demonstrator project for the scheme, and the potential for a larger adaptive reuse strategy in respect of converting vacant commercial office space for residential use.
A Member also requested that a report be submitted to a future meeting which would outline potential interventions that could be brought forward to address vacant and derelict sites and buildings on Castle Street, as part of the wider regeneration plan for the area.
After discussion, the Committee:
i. noted the progress on the vacancy and dereliction programmes that had been undertaken under the workstream of the Future City Centre Programme;
ii. agreed the parameters and the progression of the proposed Homes On Upper Spaces for Everyone (HOUSE) Programme as the next delivery workstream of the Vacant to Vibrant Toolkit, which would include actively seeking funding to deliver the proposed pilot project;
iii. agreed that a report would be brought back on the potential for the HOUSE Programme to deliver an intermediate rent model, which would include information on viability and advice from Legal Services; and
iv. agreed that a report would be brought back in relation to vacant sites and buildings on Castle Street as part of a wider regeneration plan for the area.