The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the Director of Regeneration have been invited to attend (report added 7th October 2015).

The Chairman welcomed the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, the Director of Regeneration and the Special Projects Manager.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration introduced the report and gave an update on progress.  A Member referred to the map attached to the report and questioned the dates for commencement of works; he was advised by the Director of Regeneration that the map was out of date and he would provide an updated, more readable map. The Director of Regeneration also gave a summary of outstanding issues; detailed  design and highway issues; conclusion of  the Section 106 Agreement; and agreement of the lease of the cinema (heads of terms had been agreed).  He advised that work was not likely to commence before March 2016 and that the building of the multi-storey car park would commence at the same time as the development of site 1. Due to the loss of parking at that site, temporary parking was to be provided at the Biffa waste site. There would also be a cut-through access through to the High Street.

A Member was concerned about the effect on shops at the west end of the High Street with the loss of the car park at Cockleshell Walk and the Special Projects Manager agreed to provide the Member with more detail on car parks.

In answer to questions from Members, the Director of Regeneration advised that Quinn Estates and Hause and Holm had signed a deal for all of the phase 1 residential units at site 1, the residential apartments at site 2 that would be 1-bedroom apartments for private rent and site 3 that would be similar.  He also advised that there would be more than 300 car park spaces in the multi-storey car park at site 5, the retail area at site 6 covered 35,000 square feet and the 7-screen cinema at site 4 was 29,000 square feet.  Negotiations were taking place with major restaurant chains to rent the ground floor of the cinema site and the report in the planning approval set out details of the remodelling of highways in this location.

After further questions, Members were advised that there would be approximately 500 cinema seats, the anticipated opening of the cinema was at the end of 2017 and the cinema operator would tailor the opening times to suit the local need.

A Member acknowledged that it was a large, complex project which was only partly under the Council’s control, but was concerned at the lack of progress and more definitive timing of the development.  The Cabinet Member for Regeneration advised that with so many partners involved, so many processes to go though and some unpredicted issues, the Council did not have full control of the scheme, but the project was moving in stages and there were regular operational, directional and partner meetings and on-going discussions.  A timetable had not been given as delays caused disappointment and only non-confidential information was released.  In response, a Member was concerned that Members and the public were not aware of regular meetings or progress that had been made.  The Director of Regeneration explained his frustration at the legal complexities of the project but advised that it was closer to achieving commencement than ever before.

The Chairman said it was unrealistic to give specific dates or a timetable as the Council were among a number of partners in the project and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration stressed the importance of finalising the legal documents thoroughly.

In response to questions from a Member, the Director of Regeneration advised that £2.5million had been approved from LGF Funding to support the highways and infrastructure works;  the £60,000 costs of the proposed footpath linking the multi-storey car park on St. Michael’s Road to the High Street would be met by Spirit of Sittingbourne within the Section 106 Agreement and would be built to adequate levels and be adopted so there would be no further future costs to the Council. He also advised that the Spirit of Sittingbourne had previously considered purchasing The Forum but Tesco would be marketing it again.  He also stated that the planning permission for a Travel Lodge hotel at the Bell Centre had now lapsed.

The Special Projects Officer advised that there had been difficulties in the highway design near the train station as it needed to be designed to be safe and work for taxis, buses, and passenger drop-off, as well as considering that the route was the main A2 through Sittingbourne. He advised that the Section 278 Agreement and other detail was nearing agreement. He also advised that Network Rail had raised no objection to the project, it had no adverse impact on their passengers and they were satisfied with the initial plans.  Network Rail could put pressure on South East Trains if there was an objection. The Special Projects Officer also advised that the proposal would be going to the National Rail Regulator to approve and the target date for finalisation was 31 March 2016.

In answer to a question about the appointment of a contractor for the multi-storey car park, the Special Projects Officer advised that the Council’s legal procurement was followed, the tender process carried out and Huber Car Park systems was their preferred contractor. As preferred contractor, they would not have to go through the tender process again as a fixed price had been agreed.

A Member asked how housebuilding on the Tesco site north of the railway would affect the number of houses allocated in the Local Plan and was advised that if a developer built less than the planned 450 houses there would be a shortfall, but if it built more there would be a windfall. The Director of Regeneration also confirmed the outstanding issues to be resolved on the town centre development were cinema lease; vacant possession of the Fountain Street site; formal grant of planning permission; Kent County Council to agree highway design; Network Rail to agree layout; design matters of properties and details in the Market Square.

In answer to a question on vacant possession of units in Fountain Street, the Special Projects Officer advised that tenants had been given notice to quit and the leases would terminate on 31 March 2016, but there was a monthly extension clause included to stay if there was further delay.

A Member asked about the provision for parking at the proposed hotel and another Member suggested basement parking should be considered as part of the planning application. 

In answer to a question as to whether consideration had been given to the re-opening of the subway between the railway and The Forum, the Director of Regeneration said he was not aware of the subway.

A Member suggested that since the initial large signs announcing the project had been erected, there should have been a further update and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration advised that each partner had their own communication team and there should be an announcement about the cinema before Christmas 2015.

A Member highlighted the external condition of 34 High Street, Sittingbourne as the internal of the building was being refurbished for place making and was advised by the Director of Regeneration that since it was in the Conservation Area, planning permission was necessary for external works and had been submitted. When asked about plans to encourage visitors to the High Street, he was advised that the report was not about the High Street, but extra visitors to the cinema and restaurants would encourage visitors to the High Street and that Starbucks and Costa Coffee were already investing in the High Street in advance of the Regeneration.

The Chairman advised that discussions on Phase 2 of the scheme would be revisited on an agreeable date in the future.