Core Strategy Preferred Options document - Amazon Web Services

Strategies, Activities and Actions – Community Infrastructure, Leisure
and Tourism
Community Infrastructure, Leisure and
Tourism
Introduction
It is vital that new development is accompanied with appropriate
infrastructure to make the District sustainable.
The term ‘infrastructure’ encompasses a wide range of issues, from roads
and sewers to education and healthcare.
Infrastructure is provided by a range of groups, including both private and
public organisations. It is imperative that we work with such
organisations in order to ensure the requisite infrastructure is delivered
when required.
Planning Obligations and the Standard Charges
The planning system has, for a number of years, enabled councils to
require developers to make payments or undertake additional works to
mitigate the impacts of new development, using a system known as
planning obligations involving a legal agreement between developers and
local authorities. Government guidance on planning obligations is set out
in Circular 05/2005 and we have used this to secure the provision of
infrastructure improvements, such as highway improvements, and to
ensure affordable housing is delivered.
There are concerns that planning obligations cannot address all the
infrastructure deficiencies that will be caused by new development,
particularly the incremental impact of smaller developments which
individually do not warrant the provision of planning obligations, but have
a significant cumulative impact.
The government is introducing an additional mechanism for securing
necessary infrastructure known as the Community Infrastructure Levy
(CIL). This will enable councils to apply a levy on all new developments
in their areas to support infrastructure delivery. The CIL will be a
standard charge levied on each new development that has an impact on
infrastructure. It cannot be used to address existing infrastructure
deficiencies, but it can be used to address such issues where the new
development will aggravate problems. The CIL is intended to operate
alongside, rather than replace, the current system of planning obligations.
We will produce a document setting out standard charges to be imposed
on developers to contribute towards infrastructure provision. This
document will be subject to consultation and independent examination
before adoption. The document will detail what infrastructure is needed,
how much this will cost, and detail how much contribution each
development will be required to make based on a simple formula which
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The Vision: In five
years...
New sustainable,
residential
developments are
being planned that are
well related to
infrastructure,
community facilities
and play space.
The expansion of
Sweyne Park now
incorporates land to
the rear of Rayleigh
Leisure Centre, which
also provides
additional playing
pitch provision.
Other parks and open
spaces continue to be
improved through a
rolling programme of
open space
refurbishment.
Initiatives have been
implemented, which
provide more facilities
for young people and
at least one new
facility a year is being
developed.
The Vision: By
2017...
A new satellite health
facility in Rayleigh is
now fully operational.