S106 Planning agreements that never deliver

S106 agreements often have pledges to deliver big by developers but often once planning is approved applications are made to changed the S106 to never deliver what was originally agreed in them.

Shocked to see that Eden Council planning committee have today approved the reduction in affordable homes that was agreed in an S106 agreement that resulted in an application been approved and supported with a number of affordable homes promised by the developer for the development in Greystoke.

This is now a ploy to get plans passed with the flag flying of affordable homes only to pull the rug on them after approval is given.

It makes a mockery of the whole planning and S106 usage and must now question any promises made on affordable homes and other items in S106 agreements when developers can just renege on the agreements and promises made to not only planning but the communities they are building in.

Beyond this we are getting the various development put forward to build houses but little or no thought is given to the wider community infrastructure needs that the additional housing puts on the communities.

Schooling, Transport, Jobs community spaces a few examples.

We know Eden needs at least 250 new homes a year delivered over the next 20 years but what will the with the 5000 homes put massive needs on the local infrastructure.

It is the equivalent to a new town in Eden over the 20 year period with no plan for new roads, schools, jobs, hospital capacity etc.

Eden council have so far failed to implement a policy and usage of Cil Community Infrastructure Levy to address the wider infrastructure needs new developments bring on an area.

The Community Infrastructure Levy is a charge which can be levied by local authorities on new development in their area. It is an important tool for local authorities to use to help them deliver the infrastructure needed to support development in their area.

Eden council must look to the infrastructure needs that developments place on the area and use the tools available to address the needs by implementing CIL alongside the S106 usage as part of large planning developments in Eden.

And hold developers to the agreements made when planning is approved not just allow developers to make a mockery of the system by making a promise to deliver then reneging on that agreement once approved.