This reports seeks approval to dispose of open space land to facilitate the delivery of the Minster Quarter Central regeneration scheme.

Further to Minute 44 of the Policy Committee meeting in January 2024, the Committee consider a report to proceed with the disposal of open space land by long leases to McLaren (Minster Quarter) Limited.

The report explained that in January 2024 the Committee agreed to select McLaren Living Ltd as preferred bidder for Minster Quarter Central and also authorised officers to proceed with the necessary statutory steps, under s.123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972, to advertise the disposal of the open spaces for two consecutive weeks and consider any objections to the disposal of such open space land forming part of the site.

The statutory notices of the proposed disposal were published on 26 February 2026 and 5 March 2026 and a notice was also available to view on the Council’s website. No objections were received.

The January 2024 Policy Committee report confirmed the Council’s strategy for Minster Quarter Central and the requirement for land assembly, including disposal of certain open space areas forming part of the development site necessary to facilitate the redevelopment. This disposal aligned with the Minster Quarter Area Development Framework (SPD) and the Local Plan allocation (CR12e).

The report explained the two options available to the Council in relation to disposal of the parts of the open spaces comprised in the Minster Quarter Central site:

(a)            Option 1 – Proceed with the disposal. This enabled delivery of the proposed regeneration scheme approved by Policy Committee in January 2024.

(b)            Option 2 – Do not proceed. This option would frustrate the January 2024 decision and stall delivery of Minster Quarter Central regeneration.

Officers recommended with proceeding with Option 1 as the statutory requirements had been met with no objections and disposal was required to deliver the approved regeneration scheme.

Resolved –

(1)       That having considered the outcome of the statutory advertising and with no objections received, the disposal of the open space land by way of the grant of long leases to McLaren Living Ltd to facilitate delivery of the Minster Quarter Central regeneration scheme, consistent with the January 2024 Policy Committee decision be approved.

(2)       That the Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with Director of Legal and Democratic Services, Director of Finance, Director for Asset and Property Management and, Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council be authorised to finalise and complete all legal documentation required to give effect to the disposal.