Issue - meetings

(i)          That the progress made to date by Capital & Centric on the Ryecroft project in Newcastle Town Centre, be noted;

(ii)         That expenditure of up to £748,329 be approved to develop the scheme to the end of RIBA Stage 4, for construction drawings, tender of a contractor, programme and agreement of a final project costs for the build out of the scheme to completion (subject to a separate Council approval at a future date);

(iii)       That expenditure of up to £174,920 be approved to develop the Aspire element of the wider scheme to the end of RIBA Stage 4, for construction drawings, tender of a contractor, programme and agreement of a final project costs for the build out of the scheme to completion (subject to a separate Council approval at a future date);

(iv)        That the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, and Portfolio Holder for One Council, People and Partnerships be authorised to progress legal agreements to enable the appointment of Capital&Centric under a Pre-Development Services Agreement (PDSA) for the development of the two schemes through a direct award under the Pagabo Development Management Framework;

(v)         That the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, and Portfolio Holder for One Council, People and Partnerships be authorised to progress legal agreements to enable the sale of a portion of the site to Aspire Housing for their residential development (site boundaries and sale price to be determined through the next stage of design development), and reclaim the monies spend on this section of the site, namely £541,258:

(vi)       That the future submission of a separate Council Report for the final authorisation to award a construction contract for the build out of the scheme, be noted.

The Leader introduced the report on the regeneration of the Ryecroft site where the civic offices and old Sainsbury’s used to be. The Council was not exclusively working with Capital & Centric but also Mc Carthy Stone and Aspire Housing.

The Deputy Leader commented that as for the previous site what needed to be done now was awarding the contract and then the construction would start. It was an exciting time after 10 to 15 years seeing this site empty.

The Leader added that accomodations on the site and possibly a new hotel would fit very well within the town bringing footfall back.

Resolved:    (i) That the progress made to date by Capital & Centric on the Ryecroft project in Newcastle Town Centre, be noted;

(ii) That expenditure of up to £748,329 be approved to develop the scheme to the end of RIBA Stage 4, for construction drawings, tender of a contractor, programme and agreement of a final project costs for the build out of the scheme to completion (subject to a separate Council approval at a future date);

(iii) That expenditure of up to £174,920 be approved to develop the Aspire element of the wider scheme to the end of RIBA Stage 4, for construction drawings, tender of a contractor, programme and agreement of a final project costs for the build out of the scheme to completion (subject to a separate Council approval at a future date);

(iv) That the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, and Portfolio Holder for One Council, People and Partnerships be authorised to progress legal agreements to enable the appointment of Capital & Centric under a Pre-Development Services Agreement (PDSA) for the development of the two schemes through a direct award under the Pagabo Development Management Framework;

(v) That the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, and Portfolio Holder for One Council, People and Partnerships be authorised to progress legal agreements to enable the sale of a portion of the site to Aspire Housing for their residential development (site boundaries and sale price to be determined through the next stage of design development), and reclaim the monies spend on this section of the site, namely £541,258:

(vi) That the future submission of a separate Council Report for the final authorisation to award a construction contract for the build out of the scheme, be noted.

Watch the debate here