Utilising surplus land for mixed tenure housing
Thurrock Council already had an operational and commercial property portfolio greater than £50m when the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation transferred its assets and functions in April 2012.
The Council needed a step change in the way it managed it’s property and asset portfolio to effectively utilise the new asset base.
The Role
Our team’s role was to support the development of an Asset Management Delivery Plan (AMDP) in partnership with the Council, to examine options to better utilise the Council’s surplus assets, and to support the Council in developing its approach to a series of Community Hubs across the area. We undertook a detailed analysis of the whole property portfolio and developed options for the future of all land and properties covering operational, commercial and those focussed on meeting community needs.
We then helped to implement the AMDP by developing the approach to the South Ockenden community hub and developing a replicable approach across the Borough and undertaking detailed soft market testing for a partnership approach with the market.
Key Outcomes
On our recommendation, the Council has set up a new housing company to deliver mixed tenure housing across the Borough on Council-owned land, alongside a series of other partnership approaches that are being developed further within the Council.
£200m
portfolio
Up to 12 sites
for mixed use development
2
teams amalgamated
Andy became an integral part of the Asset Management Delivery Plan team and brought his expertise to bear in developing and implementing our approach to reviewing the Council’s asset base. Andy’s expertise in local government coupled with his understanding of financial decision making and appraising the asset base from both a commercial and public sector view point make his skill set unique. His ability to bring these skills to bear to programme manage a change process over the length of the project helped drive this successful programme forward.
Ian Rydings
Head of Asset Management
Thurrock Council
