Agenda item

To consider Report No. REG2604 (copy attached), which sets out the findings of the Strategic Delivery Review of the Farnborough Civic Quarter Project.

The Cabinet considered Report No. REG2604, which set out the findings of the Strategic Delivery Review of the Farnborough Civic Quarter (FCQ) project.

Members were reminded that, at its meeting in April, 2026, the Cabinet had given approval for a Strategic Delivery Review of the FCQ project. It was reported that this process had now been completed and its findings and a series of recommendations to move forward with the regeneration of the Civic Quarter sites were included in the report. The outcome of the review confirmed that the outline masterplan could not proceed as originally planned due to a variety of external factors. However, new proposals were set out to deliver improvements for residents and to increase the vibrancy of the town centre. These would build on the successes of related projects, including The Landing town square, the Farnborough Pools and Fitness Centre and the new Loungers restaurant at The Meads Shopping Centre, to support a wider regeneration narrative for Farnborough.

In discussing this item, Members agreed a change to the key principles for the next steps on the Civic Quarter and agreed a number of changes to the recommendations in the Report, summarised as follows:

·                    Key principles (paragraph 5.3) – add, as bullet 2 “Optimise the Council’s financial position through a mix of capital receipts and revenue generating propositions” ;

·                    Recommendation 2, line 1 – amend reference for location of key principles to paragraph 5.3;

·                    Recommendation 3, line 1 – substitute “dispose of land” with “progress the sale of land designated as Plot B”; and

·                    Recommendation 5, last line – after “Executive Head of Finance” insert “, in consultation with the Economy, Skills and Regeneration Portfolio Holder,”.

The Cabinet agreed that the proposed approach was the right one to progress this key site within Farnborough town Centre back into meaningful use.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the outcome of the Strategic Delivery Review exercise, as set out in Report No. REG2604, be noted;

(ii)          the key principles to guide the next stages of the regeneration of the Civic Quarter sites, as set out in paragraph 5.3 of the Report and amended at the meeting, be approved;

(iii)         the Executive Head of Property and Growth, Executive Head of Governance and Law and Executive Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Housing, Planning & Property Portfolio Holder, be authorised to progress the sale of the land designated as Plot B within the Civic Quarter for the purposes of housing and/or other uses within the wider scope of the existing masterplan, noting that associated legal and agency fees would be met from the capital receipt in due course;

(iv)         the Executive Director, Executive Head of Governance & Law and Executive Head of Finance and S151 Officer, in consultation with the Economy, Skills & Regeneration Portfolio Holder, be authorised to agree a variation of the grant agreement with One Public Estate for the Brownfield Land Release Fund and Phase 9 funding;

(v)          having considered the options aimed at bringing vacant Civic Quarter plots back into use, as well as improving the public realm environment, as set out in section 5 of the report, officers be requested to identify funding of £36,159 from the 2026/27 budget for consultancy and works to enable the first stages of the proposed projects, as set out in the draft project briefs and the Executive Head of Finance, in consultation with the Economy, Skills and Regeneration Portfolio Holder, be authorised to make any necessary virements; and

(vi)         officers be requested to make contact with Hampshire County Council to explore options for traffic calming alongside the installation of a new crossing on Meudon Avenue.