Agenda item

The Regeneration Project Manager presented the Levelling Up Fund Programme projects update as follows:

• Windsor Street site: Ground water monitoring would continue to take place until mid-August 2025 with the results due to be submitted to the Environment Agency (EA). In the event ground water monitoring on site identified unacceptable levels of PFAS/PFOS (per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances), six-month of remediation would be undertaken, which would be due to conclude in January 2026.

• In general, the Windsor Street project remained on track to be completed by January 2026, meaning the site would be cleaned for redevelopment. The project was also within budget at present.

• Future use options paper for the Windsor Street site would be presented to Overview and Scrutiny in September 2025 and Cabinet in November 2025, asking Members to agree on how the site would be delivered for housing.

• Nailers Yard site: As reported at previous update to Overview and Scrutiny, there was a six-week delay to the project, incurred due to unforeseen ground obstructions.

• SCP Transport Planning had been tasked with undertaking the travel plan and welcome pack for the site, which was a planning condition that must be discharged prior to occupation.

• Members were advised that the wording of one of the planning conditions might need to be amended following the cancellation of Modeshift STARS subscription by Worcestershire County Council (WCC). Officers were awaiting information about the proposed change to how travel plans will be assessed.

• GJS Dillon were appointed to market the commercial building in December 2024, and would advertise the space and handle lettings on behalf of the Council.

• Members were updated that there had been early interest in the office units and the food and beverage units at Nailers Yard.

• The project team was preparing to submit a full business case to Birmingham City Council (BCC) for access to the funds which the Council had deposited within the defunct Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) as part of the business rates pool arrangements. This fund totalled £2.425 million, and would be spent on Nailers Yard project once received. It was confirmed that the funds would not be received until 2026/27 financial year.

• The original budget for the Levelling Up programme was £16.103 million, made up of Levelling Up Fund (Government grant) and £1.6 million of funds from the Council, to be spent on the three projects (Nailers Yard, Windsor Street, Public Realm).

• Some additional funding of £1.08 million had been awarded and secured to Levelling Up projects in Bromsgrove since the original budget. In addition, it was planned to utilise the GBSLEP funding (not yet secured) of £2.425 million to the Levelling Up Programme.

• The final cost of the Levelling Up Programme was currently estimated at £18.65 million.

RESOLVED that the update on the progress of the Levelling Up Fund projects be noted.

(During consideration of this item, Members discussed matters that necessitated the disclosure of exempt information. It was therefore agreed to move to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that information would be revealed that included information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)).