Issue - meetings

Lime Avenue Business Park and Boxworks Progress Update

Meeting: 28/04/2021 - Regeneration Scrutiny Committee (Item 8)

8 Lime Avenue Business Park and Boxworks Progress Update pdf icon PDF 508 KB

To consider the report of the Principal Project Officer.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to report of the Principal Project Officer Regeneration Opportunities

 

The Team Leader Regeneration Opportunities presented the report which provided a progress update on both the Lime Avenue Business Unit and Boxworks schemes on the former Works site.

 

The Officer spoke to the report and highlighted points contained therein.

 

A Member asked whether the Council could claim back the overspend from the Covid Relief Fund, and also whether the Council was guaranteed to recoup the monies spent during the 15 year life span of the units.

 

The Service Manager Business & Regeneration confirmed that the Council was working closely with Welsh Government on both projects, and all options were being explored in terms of the overspend.

 

A Member said ‘take-up’ of all of the Council’s units should be included on the Scrutiny’s FWP, as she had received complaints regarding the condition of some units and the increase in rental.

 

The Chair confirmed that the Council’s industrial units portfolio was included on the FWP.

 

The Team Leader explained that when the developments for both projects were put forward, a demand analysis was undertaken of the locality in terms of the units already in place, the level of interest and where we could meet the demand.  The Boxworks units was a different provision to anything else in the Borough, and from the demand analysis we anticipate demand based on enquiries that we have received and been unable to meet.

 

The Officer referred to the ‘Employment Park’ report on the previous agenda and confirmed that as part of that work the demand analysis was revisited, and there was evidence showing a demand for smaller units like the Boxworks.

 

Another Member asked whether any rental costs etc. had been established, and whether there would there be any time limit on rental of the units.

 

The Service Manager Business & Regeneration said in terms of the length of rental it was important to offer flexibility.  Options had been developed around a 6 month licence arrangement, and an extended option, and an increase in demand was anticipated as a result of the change in working arrangements due to the Covid pandemic.

 

In terms of rental costs etc. he said this was based on market rate assessments and would cover ongoing costs for the units.

 

A brief discussion ensued when the Service Manager said a flexible provision was intended for the box units to enable small start-up businesses to rent on a short term basis, but also to develop a sequence and provide support to enable those businesses as they grow and need more space, to relocate to larger existing units within the Borough.

 

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and;

 

       i.            Noted progress made to date with both the Lime Avenue Business Unit and Boxworks schemes, with final completion anticipated to be in June 2021; and

 

     ii.            Noted that a detailed closure report would be presented to Scrutiny later this year, also incorporating findings from the Wavehill consultancy report, which was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8