Decision details

The Chichester Growth Deal defines joint growth priorities for West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and Chichester District Council (CDC) including the delivery of housing, employment space, improved connectivity and improved public realm as identified in the Adopted Southern Gateway Masterplan.  The Southern Gateway Masterplan includes the development of WSCC land at the former Year 7 Block and the current all-weather hockey pitch at Chichester High School.

A Collaboration Agreement between WSCC and CDC commits each authority to the MasterPlan objectives and supports the procurement process to appoint a Development Partner. CDC published an Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) procurement notice in April 2019.  Subject to this Leader decision, WSCC will enter the procurement process in June 2019 prior to the assessment of bids.

Should WSCC, through this decision, agree to join the procurement process and through that procurement process a development partner demonstrates that the WSCC valuation of its land and other key identified evaluation criteria can be met, WSCC would be committed to the appointment of a development partner and completion of a Development Agreement.  The outcome of the procurement process will be the subject of a further decision report later in the year.

An agreement is in place with CDC to secure Local Growth Funds (LGF), held by CDC, to progress the demolition of the Year 7 Block and relocation of the hockey pitch.  The agreement has secured the transfer of £485k to WSCC for the demolition work and potential transfer of a further £1.5m of LGF for the relocation of the hockey pitch, subject to contractual agreement with the Chichester High School. 

That the Leader approves:

(1)     That projects to demolish the Former Year 7 Block and re-locate the all-weather hockey pitch are added to the capital programme, funded by LGF,  to include £430k for the cost of the demolition and £1.54m for the cost of the hockey pitch relocation subject to a full business case being approved;

(2)     That the Executive Director of Place Services be given delegated authority to the enable the County Council to join the procurement process for a development partner and to make an appointment if so advised.

None