Report by Director of Communities, Housing & Planning Services.
9
Under reference to Item 6 of the Minute of the meeting of this Policy Board held on 14 January 2020 there was submitted a report by the Director of Communities, Housing & Planning Services relative to the Orchard Street Housing Renewal Area.
At the meeting on 14 January 2020, the Communities, Housing & Planning Policy Board had authorised the Director of Communities, Housing & Planning Services, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Governance, to enter into a legal agreement with Paisley Housing Association (PHA). The purpose of the proposed legal agreement was to give PHA sufficient comfort to start acquiring privately owned properties and take forward further planning activity to enable delivery of the proposed Comprehensive Tenement Improvement project in the Orchard Street Housing Renewal Area.
During negotiations between the Council and PHA in connection with the proposed legal agreement, three properties within the Orchard Street Housing Renewal Area were advertised for sale on the open market. It was considered that a change in ownership could be detrimental to the progress of the refurbishment project and may add further risk and delay. As PHA was not at that time in a position to buy the properties, the Council sought to assist the partnership project by purchasing them. The Council’s offers for two of the flats, 1/3, 33 Causeyside Street and 1/2, 5 Orchard Street, Paisley were accepted. The offer for the third flat was not accepted. The report advised that a legal agreement had now been signed by both parties and that PHA had made contact with the owners of all properties regarding acquisition of the properties as quickly as possible. The report sought authorisation to now transfer ownership of the flats at 1/3, 33 Causeyside Street and 1/2, 5 Orchard Street, Paisley, to PHA for the sum paid by the Council.
DECIDED: That the Director of Communities, Housing & Planning Services be authorised to dispose of the properties at 1/3, 33 Causeyside Street and 1/2, 5 Orchard Street, Paisley to Paisley Housing Association for the sum paid by the Council.