Planning obligations and affordable housing supplementary planning document – second review

The Draft Planning Obligations and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document was available for you to comment on from 7 February to 20 March 2012. The comments received, together with the councils responses, can be viewed below

The document sets out the Council’s approach to delivering planning obligations, including affordable housing, through the planning application process.

Both the draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and the final version when updated will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications. It amplifies the Core Strategy policies relating to housing and helps to offset the impacts of development (Policies CS15 and CS33).

The main changes proposed in this Second Review are:

• Restructuring of the SPD around the four types of planning obligation in order to clarify the basis which planning obligations can be negotiated.
• Removal of all reference to the development tariff, given that CIL will become the primary mechanism for securing pooled infrastructure contributions.
• Removal of provisions relating to the enactment of market recovery schemes.
• Explanation of the more limited circumstances where infrastructure contributions may still be sought through planning obligations.
• An update of the section on Affordable Housing to bring it into line with current government policy changes and to reflect more up-to-date evidence on housing need.

The Draft Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule, which sets out the charges that the Council will apply to development in Plymouth, has also been the subject of consultation. This charge will be used to address the demands that development places on the city.

It is intended this Second Review of the SPD will be adopted in summer 2012.

How to view the document and your comments

Paper copy documents may be viewed during normal office hours at the Civic Centre Reception, Windsor House, and local libraries.

Evidence Base

The following information form part of the evidence base for this review of the Planning Obligations SPD:

• Core Strategy - Adopted 2007
• Planning Obligations and Affordable Housing SPD - First Review August 2010
• LDF Local Development Scheme - July 2011
• Plymouth City Council's Market Recovery Scheme 2011
• Report to cabinet, 12 July 2011: Community Infrastructure Levy and Plymouth Infrastructure Needs Assessment
• A New Affordable Rent Model - March 2011
• Evidence Base Update January 2012 for the Planning Obligations and Affordable Housing SPD Second Review
• Draft National Planning Policy Framework, DCLG - July 2011
• Strategic Housing Market and Needs Assessment Annual Update 2010