Decision details

Councillor Gidney presented the report and reminded members that King’s Lynn was designated Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) status by Historic England in March 2017. The HAZ formed a partnership with the Borough Council and other board members, with the aim to facilitate new development within historic areas of King’s Lynn to reinforce the economic, social and environmental vitality in this modern medieval town through a number of work streams.

The HAZ programme had identified a number of brownfield sites for consideration and the report sought authority to contract for architectural services in order to assess the development potential and viability of one of these sites.  Following this exercise a further report would be put before Cabinet setting out the preliminary designs and viability assessment and providing options for development delivery.

The Assistant Director made reference to the Informal Working Group, set up by the Regeneration and Development Panel, which had looked at options for the site.  He also provided detail of the property which it was hoped the Council could acquire and would form part of the development. 

Cabinet discussed the importance of the HAZ status, the proposed development site and how car parking could be provided elsewhere in the town centre.  Reference was made to the Car Parking Strategy. 

RECOMMENDED: 1)  That delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director Regeneration & Property Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder Project Delivery, the Executive Director Commercial Services and the Chief Executive, to award the contract for Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) stages 1 to 3 to the preferred planning and architectural consultancy team identified within the report.

2) That delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director Regeneration & Property to acquire the property identified within this report in consultation with the Portfolio Holder Project Delivery, the Executive Director Commercial Services and the Chief Executive.  The Capital Programme will need to be amended to accommodate the proposed purchase.

3) That the Council’s retained Legal Services provider be authorised to draft and complete all necessary contract documentation in respect of the architectural and planning consultancy services related to the site, and the acquisition of the property mentioned within the report.

Reason for Decision:

This proposal fits well with the Council’s regeneration agenda and the potential for contributing to the delivery of new housing development within the borough.