Decision Maker: West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
The George Hotel is a Grade 2 listed building
closed since 2013. It’s strategic location adjacent to the
Railway station and gateway to Huddersfield affords an opportunity
to redevelop the Hotel as a mixed-use facility including offices
and leisure facilities. The Hotel plays a prominent role in the
delivery of the Huddersfield Blueprint, a ten-year masterplan to
modernise the town centre. Acquisition and essential remedial works
for the George will provide an investment opportunity to deliver a
better balanced town centre, new and improved Grade A office space,
and act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the town
centre.
Resolved: That the Combined Authority approves:
(i) That the Getting Building Fund programme proceeds through decision point 2 (strategic business case).
(ii) That each project commences work on activity 4 (full business case) or where relevant a change request is brought forward where the project is an extension to an existing Combined Authority project / programme.
(iii) That an indicative approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of up to £52.60 million to be funded through the Getting Building Fund is given, with full approval to spend being granted once each of the projects has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs).
(iv) That programme development costs of up to £1 million (2%) and project development costs of £2.63 million (5%) are approved in order to progress the projects to decision point 4 (full business case) and allocation of these development costs to the individual projects is delegated to the Director of Delivery.
(v) That the Combined Authority enter into funding agreements with Bradford Council, Calderdale Council, Kirklees Council, Leeds Council and Wakefield Council and other partners, including Canal and River Trust, as necessary for expenditure of up to £2.63 million collectively from the Getting Building Fund (the allocation per project / partner council to be delegated to the Director of Delivery).
(vi) That the assurance tolerances:
· Any programme cost increase remains within 2% as set out in the submitted report and reallocation of funding between the projects is delegated to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director.
· Delivery timescales remain within those set out in the submitted report.
(vii) That future approvals are made by the Investment Committee at decision point 4 and through a delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director at decision point 5 following a recommendation by the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report.
Report author: Dave Haskins
Publication date: 07/09/2020
Date of decision: 04/09/2020
Decided at meeting: 04/09/2020 - West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Effective from: 15/09/2020