Decision details

This report summarises the content, scope and purpose of the draft Planning Obligations and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document for the Borough of Fareham (Excluding Welborne), with a view to thereafter commencing a public consultation exercise.

The Council has historically utilised planning obligations, often also commonly referred to as s106 agreements, from new development in order to secure contributions towards open space, transport improvements, schools provision etc.  Following the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) the amount of planning obligations being secured has been scaled back as the majority of infrastructure is now being secured through CIL.  However, as CIL can only be used for infrastructure, planning obligations are still needed to secure a number of elements considered necessary to make development acceptable in planning terms.  The SPD sets out the Council’s approach for the use of planning obligations to secure satisfactory development and essential infrastructure for the Borough (excluding Welborne) where CIL is not being sought, including the delivery of affordable housing. The document will provide a useful Development Management tool against which planning applications can be assessed. It will also inform the review of the Borough Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy charging schedule.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves that:

(a)  the Draft Planning Obligations and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document for the Borough of Fareham (Excluding Welborne), as set out in Appendix A, be published for a six-week public consultation;

(b)  the Director of Planning and Development, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Development and Executive Member for Health and Housing, be authorised to make any necessary minor changes to the document, prior to publication, providing that these do not change the overall direction, shape or emphasis of the document, and do not raise any significant new issues; and

(c)  the Draft Planning Obligations and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document for the Borough of Fareham (Excluding Welborne) be endorsed as interim guidance to be afforded due weight in the determination of planning applications across the Borough.