Decision details

The County Council’s Future West Sussex Plan set out its ambition to minimise the burden of local taxation, delivering the best outcomes for residents with the money it spends, whilst living within its means.  In 2018 the County Council agreed to adopt an Asset Management Policy and Strategy. An objective of the strategy is to acquire, manage, maintain and dispose of property effectively, efficiently and sustainably, together with optimising financial return and commercial opportunities. 

This report seeks authority for West Sussex County Council to enter into an Option Agreement with a Housing Association, for the eventual disposal of 0.83ha (2.06 acres) of land to the rear of Browns Lane accessed from Ravenscroft located on the southern periphery of Storrington as shown on the attached plan in Appendix B (available for members only).

This land is currently leased to the Storrington and Sullington Parish Council for allotment use and in conjunction with adjoining land the whole area has been allocated in the Storrington, Sullington and Washington Neighbourhood Plan as a residential development site for at least 35 dwellings.  The Housing Association owns the adjoining land and has approached WSCC with a view to developing their adjoining land in conjunction with the WSCC land, subject to the grant of planning permission and on the basis that the existing Parish allotment use can be relocated on nearby land also in the Housing Association’s ownership. 

The Cabinet Member has agreed:

(1)That the County Council enters into an Option Agreement for the disposal of the freehold land at Ravenscroft, Storrington, West Sussex, RH20 4LQ, as set out in Appendix A (available for members only)  and that in the event that all conditions of the option agreement are met the land is declared surplus to the Council’s requirements and;

(2) That Authority is delegated to the Director of Property and Assets in conjunction with the Director of Law and Assurance to conclude the terms of the option agreement and, subject to all the option conditions being met, agree the eventual sale of the land to the Housing Association based on the minimum sale price.

None