Agenda item

Further to Minue 7/16 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Executive Director of Place, which set out proposals for the development of land at Whitley South.

A corresponding private report detailing confidential aspects of the proposals was also submitted to the meeting for consideration.

Whitley South was the site of a proposed Research and Development campus situated on land to the south of the A45 and to the north of Coventry Airport.  Warwick District Council and Coventry City Council had resolved to grant planning consent for the scheme and the Secretary of State had agreed not to call in the application, allowing it to be determined locally.  The scheme was predominantly on land in Warwick District Council’s administrative area.

The site was previously part of the former Coventry and Warwickshire Gateway schema and, as such, was subject to an option in favour of the Coventry and Warwickshire Development Partnership LLP.

The report indicated that Coventry City Council was the freehold owner of the land south of the A45, which bordered Coventry Airport.  The existing option provided that, on satisfaction of certain conditions, the land comprised in both phases would be let by the Council to the LLP by way of a long term 999 year lease and subject to payment of a premium.  It was proposed that this option be varied to provide that the land be let in two phases at a fixed price for each phase.  The Council understood that it had been agreed in principle that Jaguar Land Rover would, simultaneously with the grant of the long lease of Phase 1 to the LLP, acquire 29 acres from LLP for the expansion of their existing operation in the Whitley area.

Coventry City Council were close to securing external funding to help to facilitate the provision of public infrastructure to enable the development of Whitley South.  This scheme would be critical to the current expansion plans of Jaguar Land Rover and would also accommodate a number of small medium enterprises, Jaguar Land Rover’s local supply chain, together with a hotel and car show room.

It was proposed that the Council agree to procure the infrastructure required to deliver the development and approve terms under which the LLP would be granted a long leasehold interest in the site.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1.  Approve that the Council procure the construction of the infrastructure at Whitley South in accordance with the terms set out in the corresponding private report.

2.  Approve that the Council enters into an agreement (the “Infrastructure Investment Agreement”) whereby it will agree that LLP will procure (as agent of the Council) delivery of the infrastructure works up to the total value of the external funding secured.

3.  Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Place and the Executive Director of Resources to vary the Sale and Infrastructure Agreement between the Council and the LLP dated 2^nd December 2014 to enable the delivery of Whitley South and to extend the existing Sale and Infrastructure Agreement for such period as is necessary to secure the Council’s position with regard to the Gateway scheme.

4.  Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Place and Executive Director of Resources to make modifications (if necessary) to the Infrastructure Investment Agreement between the Council and the LLP which takes into consideration all legal and financial implications.

5.  Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Place and Executive Director of Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration to serve all necessary notices on the existing tenant of the subject land so as to gain vacant possession of the land in order to allow the proposals in the report submitted to proceed.

6.  Approve the inclusion of the external funding, once secured, on the Council’ approved Capital Programme, delegating authority to the Executive Director of Resources to reflect as appropriate once the spend profile is known.