Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing SPD

Background to the Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing: Priorities and Delivery Supplementary Planning Document (SPD):

When planning permission is granted the Council is entitled to ask developers to pay for some of the infrastructure or other needs that their development generates. The Adopted Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document provides guidance on what Torbay Council wishes to seek from developers in the way of planning contributions. The SPD provides advice on the implementation of policies in the Saved Adopted Torbay Local Plan. Planning contributions are also regulated by Government Circular 5/2005, which sets out tests of reasonableness.

The Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document was adopted on 28th February 2008. It prioritises developer contributions into the following areas:

Development site acceptability matters
Affordable Housing
Sustainable Development - targeted on Community Plan themes

The SPD also provides guidance on implementation.

Economic Recovery Measures

The council wants its planning service to act as an agent for sustainable growth. In the light of the ongoing harsh economic climate, the council approved a third update to the Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing SPD on the 24th March 2011.

This replaces and updates the June 2010 Update. This update sets out how the council will address matters of viability arising from planning applications, with a view to maintaining development activity.

Community Infrastructure Levy

Update 3 to the Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing SPD is intended as an interim measure until the council adopts a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

The Council is currently preparing a CIL in conjunction with an Infrastructure Delivery Study. It intends to consult on a draft CIL charging schedule in Summer 2011.

Sustainability Appraisal:

It is essential that in formulating the Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing SPD consideration is given to the sustainability implications of each plan option. It is for this purpose that an independent sustainability appraisal was compiled by Enfusion Ltd. This outlines some of the key sustainability issues associated with the draft SPD. The SA is accompanied by a Non-Technical Summary, a Statement of Sustainability and a Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report.

Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document: Update 3 Economic Recovery Measures (April 2011)

Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing - Adopted Supplementary Planning Document

Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing - Summary Leaflet

Planning Contributions and Affordable Housing - What is it? Leaflet