Decision

The Cabinet has decided to approve the acquisition of additional affordable housing through a bulk market acquisition by Crawley Homes.

Analysis

outcome: The Cabinet approved Option 4 and associated delegations for negotiations and completion of relevant documentation.

summary: The decision involves approving the acquisition of additional affordable housing through a bulk market acquisition by Crawley Homes.

topline: The Cabinet has decided to approve the acquisition of additional affordable housing through a bulk market acquisition by Crawley Homes.

reason_contentious: This issue may be contentious as it involves financial and business affairs of individuals, as well as the allocation of budget for affordable housing.

affected_stakeholders: ["Crawley Homes", "Head of Strategic Housing", "Head of Governance, People and Performance", "Head of Corporate Finance", "Leader of the Council", "Cabinet Member for Housing"]

contentiousness_score: 6

political_party_relevance: There are no explicit mentions of political parties in the decision.

URL: https://democracy.crawley.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=780

Decision Maker: Cabinet, Full Council

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: To pursue an opportunity to secure additional affordable housing.

Content: Exempt Paragraph 3 – Information relating to financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information)   RESOLVED   That the Cabinet:   a)           considered the options as set out in Section 6 and approves Option 4 and associated delegations as detailed in Sections 6.4 and 6.5 of report CH/226.   b)           authorises the Head of Strategic Housing and the Head of Crawley Homes to proceed with negotiations with the aim of securing additional affordable housing through a bulk market acquisition by Crawley Homes as detailed in section 5 below.   c)           delegates the negotiation, approval and completion of all relevant documentation, including legal paperwork necessary to the Head of Strategic Housing, the Head of Crawley Homes, the Head of Governance, People and Performance, and the Head of Corporate Finance, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Housing. (Generic Delegations 2 & 3 will be used to enact this recommendation)   That the Full Council be recommended to approve the uplift to the Crawley Homes Acquisitions Budget from within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) as detailed in section 5.4 of report CH/226, for the purposes of securing additional affordable housing.   Reasons for the Recommendations   Crawley Homes has an active home-building programme aimed at expanding the Council’s affordable housing stock, which in recent years has been impacted by water-neutrality that has slowed down housing delivery, and it is now necessary to pursue new opportunities to address the backlog that has resulted, and to further compliment the current affordable housing development programme.  

Date of Decision: June 25, 2025