Otterpool Park Update: Council still sorting its sh*t out

The Council purchased the Champney land in December 2015. The land cost £5m. This was the beginnings of the Otterpool Park Garden Town Dream, where the Council hope to build up to 10,000 new homes.

In April 2016, the Reuben Brothers via their offshore company, Cozumel Estates, registered in the British Virgin Islands, buy the racecourse for £4m.

In Sept 2016 the Council sign a collaboration-agreement with Cozumel Estates, owned by the Reuben Brothers, who own the racecourse.

On 11 Nov 2016, the then Housing Minister Gavin Barwell announced £750,000 worth of funding for Otterpool Park; and granted it Garden Town status 

In Nov 2019, it took the elected members 49 minutes for the request for the facility to draw down £100 million to be used for Otterpool, to be agreed at full Council. At this meeting Cllr Tim Prater (Lib Dem) (pictured) said:

• “It feels like the prime motivation for this development [Otterpool] is to generate millions of pounds for Shepway District Council rather than to meet the genuine housing needs of Shepway people thereby making this a case of ‘profit before people’.

In Jan 2020, the Council purchased the racecourse from the Reuben Brothers for £25m.

As of the 31st Oct 2021, Otterpool Park had cost £51m (net), now that is excess of £65m.

In Nov 2021, the then Managing Director of Otterpool Park LLP predicted the first house for sale at Otterpool would be 1 September 2025. That of course isn’t going to happen.

Since then the Council have been on its own through its two companies which front Otterpool, they being Otterpool Park LLP and Otterpool Park Development Company Ltd

Using this route, the Council have potentially caused themselves a headache as they have land agreements with landowners. If the council purchase or redeem these agreements then they may well be covenating with themselves. This would mean they’d have to pay and s106 money. The Council have been exploring ways to unpick this situation.

In March 2024, the Council were in discussions with Places for People regarding a “joint venture“. People & Places are the largest housing association in the country, and offer affordable housing. But Cllr Jim Martin Leader of FHDC (pictured) stresses he’d like to include other type of tenures, including Council homes as well.

The council wish to make an announcement about an agreement with a joint venture partner by Dec 2024. At the moment negotiations are ongoing, so confidential, but as we said, an announcement either formal – in the council chamber or informal – behind closed doors – will possibly be made before the Christmas recess of the Council. As is standard once an agreement is in place, then the Council can move onto a heads of terms agreement, then they’ll get fully signed up, but this will be some time next year.

Even if an announcement is made, don’t think work will spring to life. That won’t happen. The reason for this is no work can commence on the site until the waste water treatment works is built first. So we can confidently say the Council are still busy sorting their shit out with regards to Otterpool.

Below you can see Cllr J Martin being interviewed by the LGiU about Otterpool. This took place in March/April 2024

The Shepway Vox Team

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