The Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration will provide the Executive with an update on the Claremont Centre – Chapel Road.

1)    The progress that has been made is noted by the Executive.

2)    The proposals for Claremont Centre and the progress on the relocation of Stretford Library, are noted by the Executive.

3)    The Executive approves and authorises the development of 5 houses on the Chapel Road site (the Development) now a viable scheme has been designed.

4)    The Executive delegates authority to the Corporate Director of Place to:

a)    undertake the Development.

b)    engage with external professional resources as required to assist in implementing the Development

c)    commission, submit and/or authorise as appropriate:

i)             an application for planning permission.

ii)            Any surveys / investigations where such surveys will manage the risks associated with the Development and/or assist with the preparation, submission and resolution of a planning permission application, or any other usual pre-development survey or investigation.

iii)           Any further study or design required for the development.

iv)           Any demolitions or physical alterations that wil either reduce the risks associated or accelerate the Development.

d)    Negotiate and finalise any agreement contract or other document required to deliver the Development and any associated disposals.

e)    Agree any license or approve the grant of any easement or lease or any other disposal, including where that disposal taken in isolation would constitute a disposal at undervalue, which is designed or intended to implement or facilitate the Development.

f)     authorise a marketing, pricing and disposal strategy and authorise the sale of plots, either individually or in blocks, including where the anticipated or actual capital receipt exceeds £499,999.

5)    The Director of Legal and Governance is authorised to enter into all legal agreements required to implement the above decisions.

The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration presented a report

       Which updated Members on the proposed redevelopment of the Claremont  

 Centre/Chapel Road site, sale and associated relocation of Trafford Music

 Service and Stretford Library. Members were reminded that In January

 2022 the Executive approved a feasibility study to facilitate the above. This

 report provides an update on that work and the proposed next steps.

 The report sets out the following in detail –

•    The proposal to redevelop the former office building GMMH, Chapel Road, Sale (Paragraph 2.1 to 2.7 of the report refers).

•    Trafford Music Centre relocation to Stretford Library Building (Paragraph 3 to 3.4 of the report refers).

•    Stretford Library relocation to Stretford Mall (Paragraph 4 to 4.5 of the report refers).

 The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration sought approval to

 Move forward on a changed proposal to undertake detailed planning and

 Commission works to a specific scheme on Chapel Street. The Executive

 Member referred to consideration that has been given to a move for

 Trafford Music Service to Stretford Library site and facilitating a move for

 the Library Services to Stretford Town Centre and the subsequent

 redevelopment of the wider Chapel Road and Claremont Centre. The

 Feasibility work identified the existing poor condition of the Stretford Library

 and the limited options to convert the space to support a growing music

 service thus not allowing the move to go ahead.

 It was noted that the Increased building costs and further constraints around

 conversion of Claremont Centre residential which has limited options and

 this has been compounded by inflation and increased interest rates. In

 February 2023 further funding was received from the Investment

 Management Board to look specifically at the Chapel Road site and for a

 feasibility study to be undertaken to look at the development of this site and

 the Greater Manchester’s Mental Health Building (GMMH) as a standalone

 development.

 The Leader concurred with points raised by Members to make sure that the

  proposition regarding moving the Library to Stretford Town Centre is the

  correct proposition and similarly regarding the long term position for the

  Music Service.

  Following discussion the Leader moved the recommendations of the report

  and they were approved.

  RESOLVED: That

1)    the progress that has been made is noted by the Executive.

2)    the proposals for Claremont Centre and the progress on the relocation of Stretford Library, are noted by the Executive.

3)    the Executive approves and authorises the development of 5 houses on the Chapel Road site (the Development) now a viable scheme has been designed.

4)    the Executive delegates authority to the Corporate Director of Place to:

a)    undertake the Development.

b)    engage with external professional resources as required to assist in implementing the Development

c)    commission, submit and/or authorise as appropriate:

i)               an application for planning permission.

ii)              Any surveys / investigations where such surveys will manage the risks associated with the Development and/or assist with the preparation, submission and resolution of a planning permission application, or any other usual pre-development survey or investigation.

iii)            Any further study or design required for the development.

iv)            Any demolitions or physical alterations that wil either reduce the risks associated or accelerate the Development.

d)    Negotiate and finalise any agreement contract or other document required to deliver the Development and any associated disposals.

e)    Agree any license or approve the grant of any easement or lease or any other disposal, including where that disposal taken in isolation would constitute a disposal at undervalue, which is designed or intended to implement or facilitate the Development.

f)      authorise a marketing, pricing and disposal strategy and authorise the sale of plots, either individually or in blocks, including where the anticipated or actual capital receipt exceeds £499,999.

5)    the Director of Legal and Governance is authorised to enter into all legal agreements required to implement the above decisions.