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Funding From New Housing Developments

Since 1993 the planning team at Ashfield District Council has been negotiating contributions from housing developers towards open space and recreational facilities. Payments from developers are used in the general locality serving the development to:

• Improve existing open spaces
• Provide new open spaces
• Provide and improve Greenwood Community Forest and nature conservation schemes

This approach is only taken when open space is not required within a new housing development due to the proximity of existing recreational facilities or where the hosuing site is too small.

Government planning advice allows the Council to agree payments from developers towards open space improvement. This advice is incorporated into the Council's Local Plan for the District which is used to negotiate payments when deciding on planning applications for new housing. The Council currently requires £1,200 per dwelling to be paid on agreed developments. This figure is increased annually in line with inflation and land values. The developer must make their payment before work commences.

How is the Money Spent?

Opening of new community cafe at Kingsway Park
 
Money received from housing developers can only be spent in the general area in which the new development is located. Ashfield is divided into four such areas including Hucknall, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, and the rural villages (including Jacksdale, Selston and Underwood).

When the money is received, 75% is allocated towards carrying out physical works and 25% towards the subsequent maintenance of those works to ensure that they are kept in good order. The Council has established Area Consultative Groups, comprising local councillors, based on the four areas described above. These groups consider all proposed schemes and agree the allocation of funding.

Funding from housing developers has been used very successfully to attract a substantial amount of other grant/funding sources. For example, £3 million has been received from housing developers since 1993. This has been used to attract a further £750,000 of grants towards improving open spaces.

Current and Proposed Future Schemes

Select to download the Summer 2006 edition of 'Improving Open Spaces - Section 106 Project Update'
(279KB)

 

Any Ideas?

If you have any suggestions for future open space or recreation projects, or comments on the schemes on this web-page, please contact the Ashfield District Council Planning Policy and Projects section.