Agenda Item 5

Committee: Lead Cabinet Member for Community and Resources

Date: 18 September 2012

Title of Report: Land adjoining Millpond Depot,

By: Interim Director of Corporate Resources

Purpose of Report: To seek Lead Member approval to declare this property surplus to County Council requirements. ______

RECOMMENDATIONS: The Lead Member is recommended to:

(1) Declare the land adjoining Millpond Depot, Maresfield surplus to the County Council’s requirements; and

(2) Authorise its disposal at the best price reasonably obtainable.

1. Financial Appraisal

1.1 Declaring this land surplus to the Council’s requirements and selling on the open market for redevelopment will generate a significant capital receipt and contribute towards funding of the County Council’s capital programme.

2. Supporting Information

2.1 The land shown hatched black in Appendix 1 comprises 0.83 Hectares (2.05 acres). was part of a parcel acquired in 1976 as part of the Bypass (A22) road scheme. The Council was required to purchase the land under the Blight Notice procedure because it was substantially affected by severance as a result of the scheme.

2.2 The then owner served a Blight Notice which required the Council to purchase the land as a result of the land owner being substantially affected by severance from other land in his ownership. On the subsequent completion of the Uckfield Bypass County Council (ESCC) constructed a Highways Depot on the adjacent land for the storage of vehicles and gritting salt.

2.3 All of the land shown hatched on the plan is now established woodland, part of which is designated as ancient woodland and is therefore unlikely to be developable at any point in the foreseeable future.

2.4 Within the area hatched black a public footpath runs adjacent to the Council Depot. The transfer of this land will not prevent the continued use of this right of way but obligations of maintenance will pass to any new landowner.

2.5 Previously the Council had considered the hatched land for alternative uses none of which were deemed appropriate. As a result all Council Departments have been consulted and have confirmed that the Council do not have any requirements for this land. The local Councillor has been consulted on this matter

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3. Conclusion and Reason for Recommendation

3.1 There is no further operational use or other Council requirement for this land. It is recommended that this property be declared surplus to County Council requirements and disposed of at not less than market value.

ANDREW TRAVERS Interim Director of Corporate Resources

Contact Officer: Dennis Thomas - Estates Team leader (01273) 335469

Local Member: Councillor Reid

Background Documents None

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Maresfield

Buxted

© East Sussex County Council 2011. Aerial Photography © Getmapping.com 2011. This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permissionUckfield of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. 100019601. 2011.

Map Title: Land at Millpond Depot, Maresfield TN22 2ED East Sussex County Council County Hall St Annes Crescent Date: 14/08/2012 Map No: Scale: 1:1,250 GSS Author: 5 6