MD1636 East of Kent Avenue (EKA) site

1.1. Further to the Housing Investment Group in July 2014 approval to undertake due diligence and negotiations GLAP has come to an agreement with Ford Motor Company (FMC) to acquire the 2.3ha EKA site which is adjacent to the GLAP’s land holding at Beam Park in the London Riverside Opportunity Area. As shown in the plan at appendix 1 the EKA site runs the length of Kent Avenue which prevents access from the Beam Park site to the road and onward through any future development at the Ford Dagenham Stamping and Tooling Plant (DSTO) site which is currently being marketed by FMC for mixed-use residential development.

1.2. An options appraisal and viability assessment undertaken in 2015 identified that GLAP should consider acquiring the EKA site to remove the risk of adverse development which could negatively impact on values at Beam Park and also enable connections through the DSTO to Dagenham Dock station to improve Beam Park Plot 1 (formerly PTA) levels and values on the western edge of the Beam Park site.

1.3. Once the acquisition is complete in March 2016 the EKA site will be included in the Beam Park disposal which is currently being procured thorough the London Development Panel. Bidders for the Beam Park site were asked to include the EKA site within their submissions. The Housing Investment Group approved the appointment of Countryside Properties (UK) Limited on the 13 January 2016.

2.1. The acquisition is anticipated to be complete by end March 2016 and the draft terms were included in the Beam Park disposal recommendation to the Housing Investment Group in January 2016.

2.2. Incorporating the EKA site into the Beam Park development provides an opportunity to increase the number of homes to be delivered, but importantly will facilitate a better quality development to create a sustainable community with improved access to public transport which will add value, contribute to placemaking, local policy objectives and increase attractiveness of the development.

There are no equality implications. The initial acquisition of the EKA site will have no impact on the end users (future residents) and therefore no impact on any of the protected characteristics.

4.1. Key Risks and Issues
FMC have board approval to complete the sale of the EKA site by 31 March 2016. GLA is also keen to complete the acquisition by this date to enable the integration of the EKA site into the Beam Park disposal.

4.2. Links to Mayoral Strategies
The London Plan and the London Riverside Opportunity Area Planning Framework (LROAPF) identify brownfield sites in East London as a means to meeting London’s needs for housing and employment. The Mayors Housing Strategy sets out the need to accelerate housing development to meet London’s need for 42,000 new homes per annum. The EKA site assists and increases the deliverability of new homes – including affordable housing – in the London Boroughs of Barking & Dagenham. Development at Beam Park is also integral to the Rainham and Beam Park Housing Zone which is a key Mayoral priority and means of accelerating new home delivery in East London.

4.3. Impact Assessments and Consultations

GLAP is working in close partnership with the London Boroughs of Barking & Dagenham and London Borough of Havering on the future development of the EKA and Beam Park sites.

See Part 2 Confidential facts

6.1. Section 30 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (as amended) (GLA Act) gives the Mayor a general power to do anything which he considers will further one or more of the principal purposes of the GLA as set out in section 30(2) which are:
(a) Promoting economic development and wealth creation in Greater London;
(b) Promoting social development in Greater London; and
(c) Promoting the improvement of the environment in Greater London
and, in formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought, officers confirm they have complied with the GLA’s related statutory duties to:
• pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people;
• consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons in Greater London, promote the reduction of health inequalities between persons living in Greater London, contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom and contribute towards the mitigation of or adaptation to climate change in the United Kingdom; and
• consult with appropriate bodies.

6.2. Sections 1-3 of this report indicate that the Mayor has the power to agree to the Decisions set out above.