Publication Draft
6. Delivery and Monitoring
Introduction
6.1 The Local Plan aims to be aspirational but realistic. It needs to be deliverable and it needs to deliver the objectives set out in the Vision, Issues and Objectives section. It is important that its delivery is monitored so that the delivery mechanisms can be improved over time or, if necessary, the Plan can be reviewed where it is either not being delivered as intended or where it is not delivering the Plan’s objectives
6.2 The purpose of this chapter is to set out the Council’s approach to the delivery of the Local Plan, which will help to ensure the Plan is effective and achieves its vision and objectives. This includes:
A developer contributions policy;
A viability policy for specific planning proposals;
An on-going assessment of Plan viability;
Development Plan Documents to align with this Plan;
Development Briefs and Supplementary Planning Documents;
An Infrastructure Delivery Plan ;
The potential to use Compulsory Purchase to bring forward essential elements of the Plan;
On-going work relating to Duty to Cooperate;
Circumstances for reviewing the Plan ;
The Development Management process ;
Preparation of an annual monitoring report.
Plan Delivery Policies
(40) DM1 Infrastructure Contributions
Development will be expected to provide, or contribute towards provision of:
Measures to directly mitigate its impact and make it acceptable in planning terms, and
Physical, social and green infrastructure to support the needs associated with the development
Infrastructure and mitigation measures will be provided in a timely manner to support the objectives of the Plan.
The Council will, where appropriate, seek to secure site-specific infrastructure investments and/or contributions as well as off-site contributions and/or investments. The nature and scale of these will be related to the form of development and its potential impact on the site and surrounding area. The cumulative impact of developments will also be taken into account.
Developer contributions in the form of Planning Obligations and/or Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) will contribute towards strategic infrastructure required to support the overall development in the Plan.
The Council will work in partnership with infrastructure providers and other delivery agencies in updating the Infrastructure Delivery Plan to ensure an up to date evidence base regarding infrastructure requirements and costs is maintained.
Explanation
6.3 New development places pressure on existing infrastructure whether it be schools, roads, open spaces, sports facilities, health facilities or community halls. It is therefore important that new development proposals provide for or, contribute towards, investment in infrastructure. This is key to ensuring that cohesive communities and a good quality of life are achieved for both existing communities and emerging communities.
6.4 This policy seeks to support policies elsewhere within the Local Plan to ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place to secure these contributions. The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) will be a key part of this. CIL contributions will be required of all development (except that exempted within the CIL scheme) to contribute towards strategic, off-site infrastructure. In parallel with the CIL scheme, contributions will also be sought towards the provision of on-site infrastructure and other off site infrastructure that is not included with the CIL Regulation 123 list. This will be negotiated through planning obligations (such as Section 106 agreements).
6.5 It is important that the cumulative impacts of all the development proposed in this Plan are taken into account in agreeing contributions. Some infrastructure impacts occur as a result of an accumulation of development. For instance, it may be the case that a particular development does not in itself trigger the need for a new road junction, but in combination with other developments a new road can be demonstrated as necessary. In this case, it is important that all developments contribute, not just the development that comes forward at the time the junction requirement is triggered. For this reason, the cumulative impacts of development will be considered in calculating appropriate levels of infrastructure contributions.
6.6 A key aspect of this policy will be the Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP). This will set out what infrastructure is required, when it is required, how much it will cost and what part of the overall cost will require contributions from development. It is important that this is kept up to date along with the evidence base that informs the IDP.
(3) DM2 Assessing Viability
Developments will be expected to comply with the policies set out elsewhere in this Plan (including those polices which refer to the provision and funding of infrastructure) unless it can be demonstrated that the policies will result in the development being unviable.
Applicants should discuss viability concerns with the Council at the earliest possible stage in the development process.
Proposals that are unable to comply with the Plan’s policies on viability grounds must be accompanied by a detailed Viability Assessment. The Viability Assessment will be independently reviewed by a viability specialist appointed by the Council at the applicant’s expense.
Where the Viability Assessment demonstrates that the Plan’s policies are likely to impact on the viability of a proposal, the applicant should discuss the implications of this with the Council.
Explanation
6.7 National planning policy requires that careful attention is given to viability and costs of development. For plans to be deliverable, development must be viable and should not therefore be subject to obligations and policy burdens that undermine viability. Development should provide competitive returns to a willing landowner and willing developer.
6.8 The Council has undertaken a viability assessment of the proposals in this Plan, including requirements for affordable housing and development standards. The viability assessment has also been cross referenced to the likely infrastructure costs associated with this Plan. This work indicates that as a whole, the Plan’s proposals are viable and, in the main, development proposals should be able to comply with the policies of the Plan and contribute to the costs of infrastructure through the CIL scheme without threatening viability.
6.9 However, there may be specific circumstances which mean the planning obligations and polices make a development, which otherwise positively contributes to the delivery of the Plan, unviable. In these cases, applicants will be expected to demonstrate how planning obligations and policies result in the development being unviable by preparing a Viability Assessment. The Viability Assessment should be undertaken in accordance with the RICS Guidance Note on “Financial Viability in Planning” or any updates of this guidance.
The Council will appoint a viability specialist to independently review the Viability Assessment. Where this independent review supports the case that planning obligations and policies result in the development being unviable, the Council will negotiate with applicants to agree which policies or planning obligations will be compromised and to what extent. The applicant will be required to fund the independent review of the Viability Assessment
References
Financial Viability in Planning, Guidance Note 2012
(3) Delivery and Monitoring
| Delivery and Monitoring Activities | |
|---|---|
| Area of Activity | Description of Activity |
| An on-going assessment of Plan viability | Factors affecting the viability of the Plan and the delivery of specific proposals within the Plan will be monitored on an annual basis. This will include changes to land values, the housing and the employment markets, development costs and the impact of the planning obligations and policies associated with this Plan. Where these factors indicate a significant change, the Plan Viability Assessment will be reviewed. This in turn will inform the need to review the CIL scheme and the policies of the Plan |
| Development Plan Documents to align with this Plan | Within the Plan Period, the Council will seek to adopt three Development
Plan Documents to align with the Plan:
|
| Development Briefs and Supplementary Planning Documents | To support the delivery of the Plan, the Council will review or adopt
Development Briefs and Supplementary Planning Documents/ Guidance in relation
to the following:
|
| An Infrastructure Delivery Plan | An Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) will be prepared and maintained,
setting out:
The IDP will be supported by a sound evidence base prepared and maintained in partnership with infrastructure providers The IDP will be reviewed on at least a biannual basis to take account of updated evidence, changing opportunities and requirements and market forces |
| The potential to use Compulsory Purchase Orders to bring forward essential elements of the Plan | The Council will consider the use of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers to ensure land is available to deliver essential infrastructure and other essential elements of the Plan |
| On-going work relating to Duty to Cooperate | The Council will continue to cooperate with other Councils and bodies to ensure that cross border issues of strategic significance are addressed. This will cover a range of issues including housing provision, employment land, green belt and infrastructure planning and delivery. |
| Neighbourhood Plans | The Council will support the preparation and adoption of Neighbourhood Plans. A Neighbourhood Plan should align with the policies and proposals in this Local Plan and should set out the policies and proposals that are important locally within the designated Neighbourhood Plan area. Where Neighbourhood Plans come forward and are formally adopted, the priorities identified for enhancing or providing new facilities will need to be aligned with Plan infrastructure requirements. Information on local infrastructure requirements will be established, reviewed and updated alongside the District-wide Infrastructure Delivery Plan. In accordance with national regulations, a meaningful proportion of CIL funds will be passed to the relevant parish or spent by the District Council on behalf of the community in which the development is located. |
| Reviewing the Plan | Throughout the Plan Period, the Council will monitor evidence and issues
which could render the Plan out of date and as a result could trigger a
review or partial review. For instance, the Plan may be reviewed if one
or more of the following circumstances arises:
|
| The Development Management process | The process for determining planning applications is central to the delivery of the Local Plan. Planning applications will be determined in accordance with the policies and proposals in this Plan and national planning policy. To aid the process for determining planning applications, applicants should understand the relevant sections of the Plan and any support documents and guidance and should ensure that proposals comply with the proposals and policies prior to submission. To assist in this, the Council welcomes pre-application discussions. Where proposals do not accord with the Plan’s proposals and policies they will not normally be approved. |
| Monitoring the Local Plan | The delivery and impact of the Plan’s proposals and polices will be monitored on an annual basis. This information will be collated and presented in an annual monitoring report. The annual monitoring data will be used to assess the on-going effectiveness of the Plan and to inform decisions about the need to review the Plan and associated documentation. |
