To approve the development of a Covered Market and Managed Workspace facility at Jaywick Sands and to make the necessary associated decisions required to deliver the project, including seeking approval to use the land held in the HRA for non-housing purposes.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(1)     formally approves the Jaywick Sands Covered Market and Commercial Space project to be delivered through the funding received from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership from the Government’s GBF scheme;

(2)     agrees to the project being included within the 2021/22 Capital Programme  with a budget of £2.428m funded by £1.97m from SELEP, £350k from ECC and £105k from the Council’s existing budget relating to the provision of Housing in Jaywick Sands and authorises the Chief Executive to enter into the Funding Agreement with Essex County Council following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Housing and Business and Economic Growth and the Section 151 and Monitoring Officers;

(3)     agrees, in principle, to the land on the north side of Brooklands, Jaywick Sands and known as the market site, Lotus Way, Jaywick Sands, Clacton-on-Sea, being used for the location of the Covered Market and Commercial space, subject to Secretary of State approval and planning permission being granted;

(4)     endorses the submission of a planning application for Scenario B, acknowledging that funding for the additional cost is currently being sought from Essex County Council;

(5)     authorises the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, to submit  an application  to the Secretary of State under Section 12 of the Housing Act 1985 seeking approval  of the land held in the HRA being used for development on a meanwhile/temporary basis for non-housing purposes for the reasons set out within the Portfolio Holder’s report;

(6)     recommends to Full Council to seek approval for submission of an application to the Secretary of State under Section 32 of the Housing Act 1985 to dispose of the land held in the HRA for a term of 10-15 years by way of lease to a third party to manage the covered market and commercial space once contracted, whilst the future regeneration of the area for housing purposes is developed;

(7)     subject to the Secretary of State’s approval and following completion, the Council will look to adopt this building into its portfolio of assets;

(8)     subject to the Secretary of State’s approval, agrees for the Chief Executive and Assistant Director (Governance) to agree the Heads of Terms for a Lease to COLBEA, as set out in Appendix Four to the Portfolio Holder’s report with regards to future occupation of the site; and

(9)     authorises the Chief Executive, to complete the lease agreement on these terms and such other terms that may be considered necessary, in consultation with the Assistant Director (Governance) and the Portfolio Holders for Housing and Business & Economic Growth.

The Cabinet had before it a comprehensive report of the Business & Economic Growth Portfolio Holder (A.1) which sought its approval for the development of a Covered Market and Managed Workspace facility at Jaywick Sands and for the necessary associated decisions required to deliver the project, including seeking approval to use the land held in the Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for non-housing purposes. 

Cabinet recalled that it had adopted the Council’s Back to Business recovery plan at its meeting held on 13 November 2020, which had confirmed that a bid had been submitted to the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) for a new Covered Market and Managed Workspace facility at Jaywick Sands.  Further to that, on 19 February 2021 Cabinet had announced the success of that funding bid in the Back to Business Delivery Plan and its intention to deliver the project for Jaywick Sands, to ‘support the local economy, grow local entrepreneurship, and grow and retain economic activity and job creation in the local area.’

Members were informed that the project formed part of a wider regeneration initiative that aimed to lift Jaywick Sands out of the bottom decile of the Index of Multiple Deprivation, improving poor quality housing, stimulating economic growth and maximising the potential of the beach for tourism, improving the public realm and increasing flood resilience.

It was reported that the proposal had been developed in response to community needs as well as a wider assessment of demand for small business space in the wider area. There was a demonstrated undersupply of commercial space and a high level of demand for affordable light industrial, studio and basic office facilities within the area. Using the Council-owned vacant site in a very central location in Jaywick Sands presented the opportunity to draw this tenant market to Jaywick Sands, creating employment in the area and stimulating the secondary economy, alongside supporting local start-ups and small businesses in the community through creating a pathway from very affordable market stall accommodation to renting permanent space.

Cabinet was made aware that the site formed part of approximately 30h of land purchased by the Council as part of the regeneration strategy for Jaywick Sands and was currently used for a local market.  Whilst the bulk of the land would be utilised for new build high quality, flood resilient housing, it was also vital that employment opportunities were provided to support the regeneration and economic well-being of the area.  The land was held in the HRA and the original intention of the delivery of housing being a key regeneration principle remained the long term objective with the place plan for Jaywick developing over time.  Therefore, to use the land for a meanwhile use, an application was required to the Secretary of State to make the case for retaining the land within the HRA but using it for non-housing purposes to develop the land (albeit on a temporary basis – 10 to 15 years).

Members were advised that the Jaywick Sands Covered Market  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9