Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that a European Regional Development Fund application had been submitted to develop an Innovation Centre at Springfield to act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the Forthriver Business Park.  There were three main aspects to the project, that is, the build, community engagement and the operator model.  There had been extensive community engagement and a wide range of different community groups had been consulted.  The operator manual was currently being looked at and specialist skills had been contracted to help inform the specification.  A design and build contract was being used for the build and a planning application was due to be submitted in May, 2014.

            The Director of Property and Projects explained that the development would be located on part of the Forthriver Business Park.  That site was owned by Invest NI and was an interface location in one of the most deprived areas of the City.  The Innovation Centre would be situated on 2.1 acres of a 12 acres site and the anticipation was that that would act as a catalyst to help bring forward development of the wider site.

            The estates management teams from both the Council and Invest NI, together with Legal Services and Invest NI’s solicitors, had been in discussions to transfer the Invest NI land to the Council, subject to receipt of a letter of offer and the approval processes of each organisation.  The Council’s Estate Unit had been negotiating with Invest NI’s agent and had agreed a consideration for the site, subject to the Committee’s approval.  In addition, Officers had been working with the respective solicitors to draft the terms of the Agreement for the Lease and the 999 year lease which would transfer the site to council ownership on completion of the development, subject to funding and approval.

            The Director stated that the procedure for land transfer required the Council to pay Invest NI a 10% deposit for the site upon signing the Agreement for Lease and with an 18 month timeframe to build the Innovation Centre, in receipt of planning and approval of the plans as specifications by Invest NI.  In order to meet the funding timescale for vouched expenditure on 31st December, 2015, the Centre build programme showed an anticipated completion of November, 2015.  Once the building had been completed, in accordance with the plans and specifications, the Council will pay the remaining 90% of the consideration to Invest NI and the ownership of the land would be transferred to the Council by way of a 999 year lease.  The consideration with Invest NI had been agreed at £150,000 for a total site area of 2.131 acres.

            He pointed out that the business parks site had been subject to a Requisition Order from the Department of Justice to divert parades through the estate roads and paths.  Whilst the site had been undeveloped, that had provided the Police Service of Northern Ireland with a public safety and public order solution.  Discussion had taken place with the Police Service and the Department of Justice to limit the extent of time for any further Requisition Orders to the minimum time in order to limit any disruption for future occupiers of the Innovation Centre.

            The Committee approved the acquisition of a 2.1 acre site on the Forthriver Park from Invest NI at a consideration of £150,000.  The Committee noted that that acquisition would take place on completion of the construction of the Innovation Centre, in line with the receipt of a letter of offer for funding from Invest NI, planning approval and to agree plans and specifications.