Agenda item
Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document
To receive a presentation on the Planning Obligations, Supplementary Planning Document which forms part of the Local Development Framework.
Minutes:
The Committee received a presentation from Michael Bell, Strategic Planning Manager, Strategic Planning, Development & Renewal, on Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which formed part of the Local Development Framework. The presentation informed the Committee of changes to the SPD since the consultation undertaken during Summer 2011. The revised SPD was to be presented to Cabinet on 11 January 2012. The following information was provided:
· in April 2012, the Mayor of London would be able to impose a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). This would place pressure on the ability of Tower Hamlets to secure planning obligations. However, the Planning Obligations SPD served to strengthen the Council's own priorities until its own CIL was prepared and implemented in April 2014.
· the rise in education contributions resulting from schemes providing in excess of 35% affordable housing could deter RSLs from making applications. A specific reference in the SPD had therefore been included prior to approval by Cabinet to ensure Officers apply the contribution requirements flexibly.
· where improvements could otherwise be obtained under other mechanisms – such as under S278 of the Highways Act, related clauses had been removed from the SPD.
· the SPD reflects the priorities set out in the LDF Core Strategy, the Mayor’s priorities and those set out in the individual service strategies from across the Council such as the IDEA Store Strategy and Open Space Strategy.
In response to Members' questions the following information was provided:
- work had been undertaken to ensure a better platform was provided to secure contributions from developers for employment and enterprise than had previously been possible on individual negotiations.
- a formula was used to calculate education benefits from developers' contributions, these could only be applied to the Council’s schools,
- the calculation of the Mayor of London's CIL was a fixed charge at £35 per square metre (subject to final confirmation). Officers wished to ensure that they were able to maximise the benefits of schemes already planned before this was imposed. Tower Hamlets Council CIL would be brought forward on the same basis as a compulsory charge on all new development.
- in future it would not be possible to secure S106 benefits for infrastructure, such as education, therefore the Council would need to rely on its CIL to secure funding for infrastructure.
- the estimated implementation of the Council's CIL by April 2014 is the latest possible date for its introduction. Officers had already commenced work and it was anticipated it would be ready ahead of this date.
- RSL’s expressed a view that contributions expected of them were too great. Therefore it was necessary for officers to exercise judgement when stipulating benefits they wished to negotiate. Neither the Mayor of London's CIL nor Tower Hamlets would apply to affordable housing.
- there was a risk that the Council could lose developments after the introduction of the Mayor’s and the Tower Hamlets CIL However Tower Hamlets was in a favourable position compared to certain other London boroughs because of its higher land values.
RESOLVED
That the presentation be noted.
Supporting documents:
- 6.2 SPD presentation title sheet, item 6.2 PDF 19 KB
- 6.2 OS Presentation January 2012, item 6.2 PDF 411 KB