Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:That the application of the Vacant Building Credit in line with the CIL regulations in order to offer increased clarity for applicants and decision makers be adopted.

Reason for Decision

To adopt a clear and transparent approach to applying the Vacant Building Credit and avoid uncertainty when dealing with planning applications.

Cabinet considered a report which explained that Local Planning Authorities were required to apply a Vacant Building Credit when calculating affordable housing contributions. The guidance within National Planning Policy Guidance for implementing the Vacant Building Credit was limited and had caused some anomalies with the CIL guidance on what was classed as a vacant building, to the detriment of the affordable housing provision. Therefore, further formal guidance setting out the Council’s approach would offer clarity in dealing with planning applications.

In responding to questions from members it was explained that although the number of applications affected by this scheme were small, to date the sites were large and had a large effect on the provision of affordable housing.  It was also explained that a safety net in the process was the ability to put forward the issue of viability for the schemes.  

It was explained that in order to notify developers about the change, the website would be updated with a fact sheet which automatically notified many agents, and they would be reminded through the agents meeting.

In discussing the detail of the scheme, Councillor Blunt asked that officers come to the Local Plan Task Group to explain the scheme.

RESOLVED:That the application of the Vacant Building Credit in line with the CIL regulations in order to offer increased clarity for applicants and decision makers be adopted.

Reason for Decision

To adopt a clear and transparent approach to applying the Vacant Building Credit and avoid uncertainty when dealing with planning applications.