Decision details

The Council-owned site at Gasworks Street, which lies opposite the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus (NHIC), forms an integral part of the West Yorkshire Investment Zone (IZ). The Council plans to bring forward the site for high quality employment uses with a focus on health and life sciences businesses that wish to locate in close proximity to the NHIC to access the University’s research and innovation expertise. IZ funding of up to £8.55m has been allocated, subject to approval of outline and full business cases, to de-risk the site for future development,

The report updates Cabinet on progress in the development of the masterplan for the site; seeks approval for the submission of the Outline Business Case to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and to commence the process to select a private sector development partner to deliver the successful development of the site.

A range of stakeholders have been consulted on the project including West Yorkshire Combined Authority. There is ongoing engagement with potential delivery partners and occupiers to shape delivery of the project.

RESOLVED –

1)    That approval be given to the draft masterplan and Outline Business Case (OBC) for the project.

2)    That approval be given to the acceptance of further funding of up to £1m from West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) as part of the overall capital allocation for the project to support further development of the project including detailed scheme design and full business case development and for the Council to act as Accountable Body for the grant.

3)    That approval be given for the appointment of a private sector developer partner to progress delivery of the project.

4)    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place, in consultation with the Service Director Legal, Governance and Commissioning, to finalise the procurement strategy to appoint a developer partner, for future approval by Cabinet including commencement of pre-market engagement and subsequent procurement stages.

5)    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place to finalise the masterplan and OBC for submission to WYCA and commence development of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage 3 design and full business case.

6)    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place, in consultation with the Service Director Legal, Governance and Commissioning, to agree all necessary legal agreements with WYCA and for the Service Director Legal, Governance and Commissioning to enter into the aforementioned documentation on behalf of the Council 

7)    That authority be delegated for implementation of the programme to the Executive Director for Place including the commencement and award of any related procurement exercises required to progress the project up to and including RIBA Stage 3, in accordance with the contract procedure rules and finance procedure rules and for the Service Director Legal, Governance and Commissioning to enter into the associated legal formalities and documentation on behalf of the Council.