Havebury to auction historic High Street cottages
Wednesday, 27th November 2013.
A group of residents led by county councillor Tony Brown have pursued their aim of saving the cottages at 85/87 High Street by having a meeting with the current owners Havebury Housing Partnership.
One of the residents, John Burns, reported to town councillors last night that Havebury had agreed to put the cottages up for auction in Ipswich next month.
This follows St Edmundsbury Borough Council development control commitee's recent refusal of Havebury's application to demolish the cottages as part of a scheme to provide six new flats.
The residents had objected on the grounds that the 200-year-old cottages were historic and should be preserved, based on research done by Jason Crooks.
Mr Burns told councillors the results of the meeting with Havebury were:
• Havebury will place the cottages and a small area of the garden up for commercial auction in Ipswich on December 17. This will require the new owner to renovate the properties, re-instating them back to two properties.
• Due to the time constraints no earlier sale is possible. As a consequence this sale has now been published in the Auction House East Anglia Catalogue at http://www.auctionhouse.uk.net/eastanglia/search-results.aspx?lotid=27005
• Havebury will still proceed with the planning application to both demolish and redevelop the site at the the next development control committee meeting next week.
• Prior to that meeting they will provide briefing statements to the committee members explaining the proposed auction and changes planned to the redevelopment.
• It is planned that any buyer at auction must commence refurbishment within six months, to be completed within 18 months, subject to planning permission. Clauses will be included to protect the value of the land, and refurbishment, including the use of lift up clauses where necessary. These have still to be agreed legally.
• A guide price of around £50-70,000 has been set but the reserve has still to be agreed and will remain confidential until after the auction (if sold).
• As part of the new application Havebury will apply for consent/variance within the new curtilage of the site to cover potential changes to the site.
• The ultimate result is Havebury plan to reduce the housing units from six to four flats.
• Havebury may be able to make minor changes to the look and feel of the redevelopment phase but are restricted by borough council planners and conservation officer requirements.
Mr Burns said if Havebury were granted permission to demolish/rebuild next week, and the cottages were not sold at auction, then it was possible Havebury might still proceed with demolition but try to conserve as many artefacts as possible either in the new redevelopment or perhaps in a historical display location.
He said: "In the meantime we will look into other renovation funding streams as a possible last resort if a buyer does not come forward on December 17.
"We feel this is a very good compromise and, although we may not officially withdraw our objections to the planning application, it is not planned to add any additional objections or make additional comments."
Cllr Maureen Byrne asked what would happen if the development control committee refused next week's application as well.
Mr Burns said Havebury had stated in that case the whole development, including Eden Road, would be in jeopardy due to the apparent interconnectivity between the two sites in terms of the underground car park and building attachments.
They would also lose the reported £500,000 funding from central government for the scheme.
One of the residents, John Burns, reported to town councillors last night that Havebury had agreed to put the cottages up for auction in Ipswich next month.
This follows St Edmundsbury Borough Council development control commitee's recent refusal of Havebury's application to demolish the cottages as part of a scheme to provide six new flats.
The residents had objected on the grounds that the 200-year-old cottages were historic and should be preserved, based on research done by Jason Crooks.
Mr Burns told councillors the results of the meeting with Havebury were:
• Havebury will place the cottages and a small area of the garden up for commercial auction in Ipswich on December 17. This will require the new owner to renovate the properties, re-instating them back to two properties.
• Due to the time constraints no earlier sale is possible. As a consequence this sale has now been published in the Auction House East Anglia Catalogue at http://www.auctionhouse.uk.net/eastanglia/search-results.aspx?lotid=27005
• Havebury will still proceed with the planning application to both demolish and redevelop the site at the the next development control committee meeting next week.
• Prior to that meeting they will provide briefing statements to the committee members explaining the proposed auction and changes planned to the redevelopment.
• It is planned that any buyer at auction must commence refurbishment within six months, to be completed within 18 months, subject to planning permission. Clauses will be included to protect the value of the land, and refurbishment, including the use of lift up clauses where necessary. These have still to be agreed legally.
• A guide price of around £50-70,000 has been set but the reserve has still to be agreed and will remain confidential until after the auction (if sold).
• As part of the new application Havebury will apply for consent/variance within the new curtilage of the site to cover potential changes to the site.
• The ultimate result is Havebury plan to reduce the housing units from six to four flats.
• Havebury may be able to make minor changes to the look and feel of the redevelopment phase but are restricted by borough council planners and conservation officer requirements.
Mr Burns said if Havebury were granted permission to demolish/rebuild next week, and the cottages were not sold at auction, then it was possible Havebury might still proceed with demolition but try to conserve as many artefacts as possible either in the new redevelopment or perhaps in a historical display location.
He said: "In the meantime we will look into other renovation funding streams as a possible last resort if a buyer does not come forward on December 17.
"We feel this is a very good compromise and, although we may not officially withdraw our objections to the planning application, it is not planned to add any additional objections or make additional comments."
Cllr Maureen Byrne asked what would happen if the development control committee refused next week's application as well.
Mr Burns said Havebury had stated in that case the whole development, including Eden Road, would be in jeopardy due to the apparent interconnectivity between the two sites in terms of the underground car park and building attachments.
They would also lose the reported £500,000 funding from central government for the scheme.
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