Issue - meetings

Future of Roycraft House, Linton Road, Barking

Meeting: 25/05/2021 - Cabinet (Item 8)

8 Future of Roycraft House, Linton Road, Barking pdf icon PDF 123 KB

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services introduced a report on the opportunity to redevelop Roycraft House, the Council’s six-storey office block in the heart of Barking Town Centre, into a hybrid / mixed-use model of managed workspace with ground floor café/event space to meet the demand for high-quality office accommodation in the area.

 

The Cabinet Member referred to the options for the site that had been considered as part of the initial assessment, which included selling the site on the open market and redevelopment to provide for a new primary school.  However, it was felt that in order to promote the Council’s vision for a vibrant Town Centre with a mix of uses where adaptability and flexibility were key features, in line with the Barking Town Centre Regeneration Strategy and masterplan for the area, the redevelopment of Roycraft House as proposed represented the best option in the medium-term. 

 

An independent study of workspace needs in the Town Centre had been commissioned and had identified a range of benefits for the Council, the area in general and local businesses.  The Cabinet Member explained that the next step would be to secure an innovative, high-quality workspace operator to deliver the project and, to that end, it was proposed that a procurement process be commenced.  The outcome of the procurement exercise would be reported to the Cabinet in due course, setting out the delivery options and detailed financial issues.

 

Cabinet resolved to:

 

(i)  Agree that tenders be sought for a workspace operator for Roycraft House on the terms set out in the report; and

 

(ii)  Note that a further report shall be presented to Cabinet on the outcome of the tender process and, if appropriate, seeking approval to enter into lease / contract arrangements with the preferred bidder.