The Housing Delivery Manager introduced the report and highlighted that the scheme proposed had been considered by the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee on 5 January 2021. Local residents and stakeholders had been consulted during engagement exercises.

The new proposal included a new community centre on the Heather House Site and 11 dwellings on the Pavilion Building site, with pre-application advice supportive of the schemes design. A significant funding shortfall had been identified, which would be reduced to £308,000 if the Council’s bid to the Land Release Fund was successful. It was noted that the funding gap could be mitigated through the use of CIL payments, grant funding, the Council itself or through a combination of the approaches.

The proposed design focused on providing toilet facilities, kitchen facilities, a sports hall, welcome area and changing facilities. Additional space was available to extend the community facility if the site’s future management company wished to do so.

Further consultation with the rugby clubs that used the existing premises would take place before a planning application was submitted for the proposal.

The importance of regeneration to the Parkwood area through the proposed design scheme was highlighted. The Committee expressed support for the proposal and reiterated the significance of improving the community facility.

RESOLVED: That

1.  At risk expenditure of £200,000 to make a combined detailed planning application for both sites in accordance with the scheme designs outlined in the report and going out to tender for the works contract and procurement of the management provider for the proposed new community centre, be agreed;

2.  The Head of Mid Kent legal Services be authorised to negotiate and complete all necessary deeds and agreements arising from or ancillary to the application for planning permission; and

3.  The construction project would not commence until a follow-up report has been presented to the Committee to approve the final scheme costs and necessary financial commitments associated with the development and management of the sites; to include how the funding gap identified has been bridged, subject to the necessary planning consent, tenders for the works contracts and management provider being received for the scheme.