Decision details

Direct support for the acquisition and redevelopment of a key site within Merseyway shopping centre in line with the approved Merseyway redevelopment strategy.

Justification for General Exception:

A decision is needed urgently in order to progress redevelopment proposals with a private sector partner before the expiry of an exclusivity period in which the Council has influence over the site in question.

The opportunity to definitively progress this element of the Council’s Merseyway Redevelopment strategy has come about as a result of recently increased interest in the site.  It was therefore not possible to comply with the 28 Key Decision notice period (’Forward Plan’) that a decision was likely to come forward.

If a decision cannot be taken at April Cabinet then it will not be possible to progress the redevelopment scheme and the Council’s exclusivity period over the site in question will expire.  This would lead to the open marketing of the property and an increase in the risk set out in the report of the market bringing forward a solution to the property which is not in keeping with the Council’s overall redevelopment ambitions for Merseyway and the wider town centre.

The Cabinet considered a proposal for the Council to support the acquisition and redevelopment of a key property in Merseyway as part of the Council’s overall strategic approach as agreed in November 2018 and agreed to delegated authority to the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration and Borough Treasurer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Members for Reform & Governance and Economy & Regeneration, to progress the property acquisition and redevelopment proposals and give effect to the recommendations contained in the exempt report.

(Note: the report and appendices contained information ‘not for publication’ that had been circulated to cabinet members only).

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