This report was introduced by the Corporate Director – Communities and its purpose was as follows:

• to update Cabinet on progress that has been made in relation to supporting the aspirations of Bridgend College to relocate their main campus to Bridgend Town Centre on the BCBC owned sites of the former South Wales Police (SWP) Station and Brackla One Multi Storey Car Park at Cheapside; and
• to seek approval to progress with the transfer of these sites on a long lease basis to Bridgend College in order to facilitate development of this key site within the Bridgend Town Centre Masterplan (the Masterplan).

The Cabinet Member for Finances, Resources and Legal welcomed the report and indicated that it was exciting to partner with Bridgend College on a multi-million pound investment in a key site in Bridgend.

The Leader described the project as very exciting and reminded Cabinet members that this was the biggest single investment in Bridgend town centre and in an education project in the county borough. That was the scale and extent and potential impact of the project.

The Deputy Leader sought reassurance about the valuation of Brackla One. The Corporate Director – Communities noted that anytime BCBC disposed of assets as a local authority, it was necessary to take advice from the district valuer. The valuation put on this site was £310K but that was based on a cleared site. A such, it would cost more to make the site ready for redevelopment than the current valuation.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment welcomed the fact that the Bridgend College development would be built to a net zero carbon standard.

RESOLVED:

Cabinet:

• noted the progress that has been made in connection with the acquisition and demolition of the former Police Station Site at Cheapside in readiness for transfer to Bridgend College in support of their Town Centre campus proposal.
• noted the progress in respect of the demolition of Brackla One multi storey car park.
• authorised officers to complete the requisite legal documentation to transfer both sites to Bridgend College for nil consideration in accordance with WG Estate Co-location & Land Transfer Protocol and Subsidy Act Control in order to support and facilitate the Town Centre Campus development only, whereby should the same development not proceed the land would transfer back to BCBC.