PROGRESS ON THE BESSON STREET DEVELOPMENT SITE!
After months of lobbying, representatives from the Trust met with the Mayor of Lewisham and Council Officers at the start of February 2014 to discuss progress with the development site on Besson Street, and we are pleased to be able to report some good news!
It is probably worth recapping some of the original aims and objectives for the site agreed with the Council:
- to help contribute to the physical, social and economic regeneration of the area
- to provide new community infrastructure
- provision of new affordable housing
- provision of a new health facility and public space for new cross gate
- high quality architecture, to help stimulate wider regeneration
- environmental sustainability
A huge amount has already been invested in preparing the site for development and the Trust, on behalf of the local community, is determined to ensure the project is delivered and that it is a success.
There have been two unsuccessful Council procurement exercises to date, mainly as a result of the recession and the financial challenges posed by the scheme. The Council has apologised for the more recent delays and given a firm commitment to treat the site as a priority and move the project on.
Part of the recent delay has been because the Council is considering some new options for the project, including education provision and new types of housing. The original healthy living centre aspirations for the project remain, and so these new proposals will be in addition to the delivery of the long-awaited new healthcare centre and community space. We’re also pleased to report that, despite the delays, the funding for the new health centre is still in place and this is still due to be delivered in the first phase of the new development.
The Council has now agreed to meet regularly to discuss progress of the scheme, with the next steps being to finish the options appraisal for the site and then move towards appointing a developer. The Trust’s role will be to ensure that the views of the community continue to be represented in this process. Once the meetings with the Council are underway we will be able to let people know in more detail how this will work in practice, including proposals for consultation events and other ways to get involved and stay informed.
The Trust will also be working with the Council to ensure that community views can be fed into the detailed design and planning process as the scheme progresses. The Council has also put forward some options for temporary uses for the site whilst the procurement process is carried out, which unfortunately can take quite a long time. This is a really positive move and we will keep you updated as things progress!
The forecast development programme now looks like this:
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
May 2014 – Development Brief concluded
July 2014 – Lewisham Mayor & Cabinet sign off development brief and agree to the marketing of the site
July 2014 – Commence selection of development partner
March 2015 – Select development partner
June 2015 – Conditional contract agreed
March 2016 – Planning consent granted
April 2016 to September 2017 – Contractor mobilisation and Phase 1 build
October 2017 – Earliest occupation of health centre
October 2017 to January 2019 – Phase 2 build (subject to phasing plan)
For more information please contact Jenny Couper, email –
jenny.couper@nxgtrust.org.uk.
www.peoplebeforeprofit.org.uk
Follow on twitter@Raywoolford@PeopleB_4profit
Building Better Health Announced As Preferred Bidder For New Cross Gate Development
August 6th, 2009
Developer Building Better Health has today been announced as the preferred bidder for the £35 million New Cross Gate development, a vital regeneration scheme that almost risked being put on hold as a result of the economic downturn.
A landmark development, it has been awarded by the New Cross Gate Trust on behalf of New Cross Gate New Deal for Communities (NDC), the area based regeneration partnership. Once completed, it will be home to a new health centre, a pharmacy, fitness facility, library, cafe, internet facilities, crèche, community space, retail spaces and 170 residential units.
Designed by architects Fielden Clegg Bradley, the project features in the Mayor of London’s 100 Public Spaces programme. Following a rigorous tender process, Building Better Health demonstrated it had the ability to successfully deliver a scheme that holds considerable community importance.
Building Better Health is renowned for its work on health schemes. The company is the private sector partner in three NHS LIFT schemes across the capital and has a track record of delivering imaginative and forward thinking schemes. Unlike many LIFT developers, however, Building Better Health is keen to integrate other community services into its schemes, an initiative that is widely supported.
The New Cross Gate development will be Building Better Health’s largest non NHS LIFT project, demonstrating the company's ability to innovate and deliver a wide range of community regeneration projects.
Clive Wilson, Chief Executive of the NDC commented, '”This is a very important appointment for the Trust. The NDC Centre will provide the main physical and social legacy for the New Cross Gate NDC programme. Due to the economic downturn in the housing market it had looked like the plans for a new town centre development would have to have been put on hold. However, Building Better Health has come up with an imaginative proposal which will enable the delivery of the scheme, in many ways improved on our original concept. Building Better Health has a great track record in creative approaches, commitment to excellent design and working in partnership with local communities. We are really pleased they are going to be our partner in creating lasting change for the area.'
A key feature of Building Better Health’s bid was the emphasis the company put on the importance of community involvement. With its a private sector developer experience combined with its public sector understanding, commitment and operational ethos, it provided the perfect balance to deliver the New Cross gate development.
Building Better Health’s aim for the scheme is to make the New Cross Gate development a sustainable social enterprise so it can offer quality services after funding finishes and in turn provide a long term solution with services that are needed by the local community.
