Decision details

The Cabinet Member with the Resources Portfolio introduced the report of the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services (previously circulated) requesting that consideration be given to acquiring 11.16 acres of land at Snipe Lane, as shown hatched and cross-hatched on the plan at appended to the submitted report, for future residential development and to secure withdrawal of objections to the Snipe Lane Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO).

The submitted report stated that the withdrawal of objections would allow early confirmation of the CPO by the Secretary of State which in turn would enable the Council and its Joint Venture (JV) partner (ESH) to enter into contracts for provision of infrastructure; in March 2018 (Minute C127/Mar/20 refers) approval had been given to the acquisition of land from Darlington Farmers Auction Mart (DFAM) adjacent to Snipe Lane for development to provide 450 new homes, including 300 affordable homes; a JVC to deliver infrastructure and to deliver and sell houses had been established; and that approval had been given to the use of a CPO at the Executive Decision Session held in April 2020 (Minute 3/Apr/20 refers) to acquire part of Snipe Lane itself, which was in unknown ownership and was required to guarantee access to the proposed development.

It was reported that a number of plots of land would be accessed from Snipe Lane as well as the Council’s land; two owners of land had registered a caution against first registration of Snipe Lane and a right of way over it and they had formally objected to the CPO via agents; and that during informal negotiations both objecting owners had agreed terms to sell their land interests to the Council which would result in the withdrawal of their objections to the CPO and secure land for future development.

RESOLVED - (a)  That the acquisition of land, as shown on the plan appended to the submitted report, be approved, on the terms, as set out in Appendix 2 of the submitted report.

(b)  That the Assistant Director for Law and Governance be authorised to complete the transfers of land accordingly.

REASONS - (a)  To secure the withdrawal of objections to the Snipe Lane CPO.

(b)  To secure land for future residential development.