A report on the East Barnwell project which was due to go to Housing Scrutiny Committee in September has been postponed until November so that further work can be carried out on the detailed costs involved in this major project.

There have been significant increases in building costs generally since the inception of the East Barnwell project and the council reviews all such major projects regularly to ensure all costs and changing requirements are taken into account.

Reviews by the project team are already under way and it is proposed to bring the scheme forward as a special item at the November 23 Housing Scrutiny Committee meeting set to review the Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

The council remains fully committed to delivering affordable housing and community benefits to East Barnwell that will make this scheme transformative to the area.