That Cabinet:

1.    provide delegated authority to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Cabinet Member for Place Development and Economic Growth, to award an NEC-A Design & Build contract to Willmott Dixon Construction for the redevelopment of the site, which will allow the Design Development to continue up to construction and then proceed to construction, subject to Final Business Case approval and

securing the necessary Homes England grant funding for delivery; and

2.    note that the Final Business Case for the redevelopment of the former Crossways site will be presented to Cabinet for approval on 15 July 2026, which will include the full and final build cost and associated project costs and funding breakdown (including internal capital resources, external grant secured capital receipts).

That Cabinet recommend to the Adjourned Annual Council meeting on 14 May 2026: 

1.    to use the Council powers of Appropriation for the Crossways Site and adjacent highway land as attached at Appendix 2 to the submitted report, that is no longer required for the purpose for which it is currently held and is now required for planning purposes to enable the proposed redevelopment (Redevelopment of site for residential extra care dwellings including Day Centre (Use Class E(f)), comprising a building of up to six storeys with communal facilities and cafe, associated parking, infrastructure and landscaping);

2.    authorise the Director of Regeneration to undertake all necessary steps to affect the appropriation of the Crossways site and adjacent land as identified in Appendix 2 to the submitted report for planning purposes, and delegate to Cabinet consideration of any objections and final confirmation of decision;

3.    that the Capital Programme be uplifted to a maximum of £54.000m to deliver the project; and

4.    that a maximum of £16.300m of prudential borrowing to deliver the project be approved, noting that this level of prudential borrowing is supported by rental income based on the 91 extra care units and long lease for the Day Care facility.