Council set to net £4.5 million from 'ransom strip' land sale
A COUNCIL-OWNED ‘ransom strip’ of land - which could open the door to a major housing development - is set to be sold for £4.5 million.
Rotherham Council’s ruling cabinet will make a formal decision on the future of the land, at Worrygoose Lane, which is said to be surplus to the authority’s requirements.
But the strip of land is highly significant because it is “required to unlock a wider residential development”, according to a council report.
The council has already entered into an ‘option agreement’ over the land, but the final decision to proceed needs approval from senior councillors.
The land is a narrow strip, between the carriageway at Worrygoose Lane and a site earmarked for development under the council’s Local Plan, which identifies land deemed suitable for development.
Without the council land, access to the site would not be possible - meaning the development could not proceed.
The land has been subject to a wrangle between the council and developers, with negotiations breaking down at one point while other options for getting access to the land were explored.
However, the report states: “A change in developer and a refreshed commercial approach led to negotiations being re-opened and ultimately concluding in a final agreed offer of £4.5m for the council’s land.”
The option agreement was arranged by council staff, but needs a political decision to finally conclude the deal.
If that is completed, the land will be transferred to Miller Homes.
The site has been earmarked for a development of around 450 homes and Avant Homes originally had an interest in the site, though that has since changed with the company withdrawing its interest.
It is also in Rotherham Council’s interest to see sites highlighted in their Local Plan developed, because it has fallen behind on planning rules which dictate how much land must be available for housing in the years ahead.
Without that safeguard in place, it becomes increasingly difficult for planning authorities to raise successful objections to development applications, even if they are unwelcome under council policy.
The report describes the value of the land as “a significant capital receipt for the council”.