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AGENDA ITEM NO 6BRISTOL CITY COUNCILCABINET3
rd
March 2010Report of: Strategic Director, NeighbourhoodsTitle: Westmoreland House/ Old Carriage WorksWard: AshleyOfficer Presenting Report:
Jan Reichel, Corporate ServicesNick Hooper, Neighbourhoods
Contact Telephone Number:
(0117) 922 4032(0117) 922 4681
RECOMMENDATION
1. That Cabinet agrees to the strategy set out in the report2. Agrees in principle the use of compulsory purchase powers in order to ensure that the site of Westmoreland House /Old Carriage Works at104-106 Stokes Croft and 4 Ashley Road is brought back into beneficialuse.
Summary
The council has sought the regeneration of this property since around1992.The property is in a dilapidated state that adversely effects the physicaland economic environment of the surrounding area.A strategy is proposed to acquire the property, select a developmentpartner and bring forward regeneration of this site.The HCA is providing grant funding to assist the project. A costindemnity will be sought from a development partner.Agreement is sought to the principle of using compulsory purchasepowers to support site assembly in the event that it is not possible toacquire the site for development.
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The significant issues in the report are:
•
Agreement to a strategy to appoint a development partner 
•
the potential future use of compulsory purchase powers
Policy1.
a) The Adopted Bristol Local Plan (1997)The property is identified as a key opportunity for regeneration as aGateway scheme for a mix of business, housing and ground floor retailuses and is included in the policies for the City Centre.Gateway schemes are Sites and areas located on the main routes intothe city centre. Their renewal and improvement is key to building apositive and attractive image for the city centre and providing new inner city housing and small business sites.b) First Deposit Proposed Alterations to the Bristol Local Plan (February2003)The Plan reiterates the opportunities associated with the regeneration of this key site.c) Draft City Centre Strategy 2005-2010 (November 2005)Stokes Croft is one of nine neighbourhoods within the City CentreStrategy (this is a Key Site) considered a priority for investment andredevelopment to provide for a mix of uses including residential,business, retail and community use.d) St Pauls Supplementary Planning Document SPD10Objective 7 - Key Sites. This site is the subject of special mention withinthe SDP10 as a Key Strategy site and Key Development Site.e) Stokes Croft Conservation Area Character AppraisalThe property is identified as a Landmark Building and a Gap Site.f) Management Proposals for Stokes Croft Conservation AreaIdentified as a Potential Action to seek redevelopment considering CPOwhere appropriate (page 13)g) Emerging Bristol Development FrameworkStokes Croft is a Regeneration Area in which BCC will promotecontinued improvement
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ConsultationInternal2.
Legal Services - Joanne MansfieldFinancial Services - Malcolm Stenner 
External3.
Homes and Communities Agency
Context4. Introduction
Westmoreland House is a site of 1.25 acres containing several buildingsincluding a multi-storey office block and two listed buildings. It is inprivate ownership and has lain unused and lately derelict for 20 years.The Council has sought to secure regeneration of the site for a number of years through different means.The condition of the property impacts adversely on the Stokes Croft andSt Paul's area. Regeneration of the buildings will bring the site back intoproductive use, improve the physical environment around the site andencourage further inward investment.
Background
There have been attempts to purchase the site over the last 10 years or so. First by the South West Regional Development Agency and then bythe council in consultation with SWRDA. The later approach was after areport was taken to Cabinet on 31 August 2006 setting out a twopronged strategy. The strategy called for the council and SWRDA toseek to purchase the site by agreement (with a development partner).At the same time Planning Services would seek to encouragedevelopment by the owner through negotiating a deliverable planningapplication.The council and SWRDA appointed a development partner in 2006.With the commencement of the recession the partner withdrew in 2007.In 2007 an approach, fronted by the council but in partnership withSWRDA, to purchase by agreement failed. At that the owner sought£3m whilst the Council and SWRDAs property advisors could notrecommend a site value of more than circa £1m.The Planning Services approach was also unsuccessful and ended withthe owner appealing a planning refusal. He lost the appeal in February2010.
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