Planning Obligations

Planning Obligations are payments or work required by planning authorities as a condition of the grant of planning permission. The range and amounts demanded vary enormously, as does the quality of the justification given. The discussions can be complex and data hard to access. Mercury Planning can advise and negotiate on behalf of applicants or local authorities.

Affordable Housing

Up to 50% of the houses in a development may be required to be affordable, subsidised by the developer at great cost. Negotiations are complex, covering the number, size, tenure, subsidy, choice of housing association, and amount paid by the association.

Education

If a housing development creates demand for extra school places and there are no spare, developers may be asked to make payments. These vary wildly, as do the means of calculating numbers of children vacant school places, and costs of places. Demands may be made for child care and nursery places.

Open Space contributions

Demands for payments for open space provision also vary widely, and may cover local play space, pitches, and informal space. One local authority trebled the payment required by simply assuming that 3 times the number of people lived in houses in their town than actually did!

Transport

Payments can be required for highway work, public transport, and other reasons. Mercury Planning can ensure these are properly related to the proposal.

Others

Payments can also be required for medical facilities, community halls, libraries, and other physical infrastructure.