PLANNING SERVICE
Tel: 0345 045 5215
Contact Centre:
Mon - Sat: 8.00am - 8.00pm
Offices:
Mon - Fri: 8.30am - 5.00pm
Fax: 01954 713152
Email: planning@scambs.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window)
Address, directions & map to our headquarters
Planning FAQs
External Links
- Planning Portal (This link will open in a new window)
- Planning Aid (This link will open in a new window)
- Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (This link will open in a new window)
- Planning Obligations Circular 2005 (This link will open in a new window)
- Planning Act 2008 (This link will open in a new window)
- Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 (This link will open in a new window)
- Planning Portal Good Practice Advice on Submitting Planning Obligations (This link will open in a new window)
Community Facilities Audit
Background
On 5th November 2009 South Cambridgeshire District Council approved the adoption of the Community Facilities Assessment (CFA) of September 2009 with an informal standard of 111 square metres per 1000 heads of population.
The CFA sought to assess the provision of indoor community facilities within the District and undertook an audit that included village halls, community halls, church halls and other publicly accessible facilities.
The purpose of the report was also to provide a sound evidence base on which planning obligations would be negotiated to mitigate the impact of new development. This follows on from policy DP/4 Infrastructure and New Developments of the Councils Development Control Policies Development Plan Document adopted July 2007.
It is also envisaged that the CFA will inform parts of a proposed Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document.
District Councillors agreed to implement applying planning obligations for community facilities as of 1st January 2010. This informal policy will be applied to all planning permissions where there is a net increase of dwellings.
The basis for planning obligations
Recommendations within the reports outlined the process by which expected planning obligations should be calculated:
- Evaluate the impact
Estimate the number of residents from the proposed development
Calculate existing amount and quality of indoor community space
- Ascertain the demand
Estimate the existing population and combine with estimated population from development
Assess quantity standards to determine whether there will be capacity to cope with additional demand
- Consider supply
If there is sufficient space to meet demand, assess whether planning obligations are required to enhance the facilities by improving quality and accessibility.
- Determine solution
Compare existing quality against recommended standards within the CFA ensuring that planning obligations are only required where necessary.
Assess whether on or off site provision is necessary based on the application and local circumstance.
- Calculate the contribution
Consider the impact of the development against existing community facility infrastructure, taking into account both capital and revenue requirements to offset the additional burden of new residents.
In order to make the process more transparent, the District Council is in the process of creating a Community Facility Calculator. This is to be used by developers and agents to estimate the necessary level of indoor community facility planning obligations that will be sought as result of their application.
The Community Facilities Audit report and supporting documents are available using the links below.
Community facilities audit final report 25-09-2009
Community facilities report appendix A
Community facilities report appendix B
Community facilities report appendix C
