Issue - items at meetings - Developer Contributions - Interim Guidance

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy attached).

(1)         That the Cabinet approves the Interim Guidance on Developer Contributions (Attached as Appendix 1 – Supporting Documents) for: Affordable Housing, Local Employment and Training; Education; Open Space and Transport and travel, until such time that it is replaced by an Infrastructure and Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document that will be informed by new legislation.

168.1          The Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Director, Place concerning interim guidance on when and how Developer Contributions are sought in relation to development proposals.

168.2          Councillor Simson welcomed the proposals, which she felt would tackle frustrations about the use of developer contributions in areas other than the arts. She also welcomed the widening of the definition in relation to sports, recreation and play space.

168.3          Councillor Mitchell welcomed the interim guidance and plans to produce a supplementary planning document (SPD). She highlighted the expectation to seek affordable housing on a development site, but raised concerns about the flexibility available in relation to this.

168.4          The Chairman advised that developers had not always been able to provide affordable housing on-site while maintaining a viable development; the interim guidance offered flexibility to ensure that affordable housing was provided, but on alternatives sites when necessary.

168.5          Councillor Smith explained that it was important for the whole city to be able to benefit from developer contributions in areas other than the arts.

168.6          Councillor Caulfield stated that RSLs were not the only method of providing affordable housing; good quality affordable housing would be forthcoming if flexibility was afforded to developers to achieve a viable development by building affordable housing off-site.

168.7          RESOLVED – That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet accepted the following recommendations:

(1)         That the Interim Guidance on Developer Contributions (Attached as Appendix 1 – Supporting Documents) for: Affordable Housing, Local Employment and Training; Education; Open Space and Transport and travel, be approved until such time that it is replaced by an Infrastructure and Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document that will be informed by new legislation.