Decision details

Councillor S Farmer took over the remit of Chair for this item.

Councillor Edge took no part in the debate or vote[CH1] .

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report updating Committee on the Development Appraisal work for the land along the A59 in Clitheroe.

Members were reminded that, following an approach from Taylor Weaver Ltd with an offer to the Council to purchase land along the A59, in March 2021 Committee resolved to:

1.    Agree to the appointment of consultants to undertake a Development Appraisal of the land;

2.    Agree a total budget of up to £20,000 for the Development Appraisal to be sourced from the Economic Development Initiatives budget.

In September 2021, Committee agreed to increase the budget to £30,000 due to the challenge in procuring consultants to undertake the work within the previously agreed budget.

The report included the intended considerations of the Appraisal and the requirements of The Council as the client.

It was noted that there were high infrastructure costs due to various constraints on the site including access and physical characteristics. The report explained that two options had therefore been considered in respect of the site development, and a viability appraisal of both options had been undertaken.

The resulting Land Appraisal was contained within the report and Officers updated Committee of their considerations in respect of the Appraisal, recommending that the Council not pursue with the consideration of purchasing the land.

Officers answered a number of questions from Members, who discussed the appraisal and noted that it would be a useful source of information going forward when considering other land.

Members requested some further data behind the high-level numbers that supported the appraisal to gain further understanding.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Agree that Officers inform Taylor Weaver Ltd that the Council will not be pursuing with the consideration of purchasing this land.