Tuesday 10 November 2009

CONSULTATION LAUNCHED ON BETTER FACILITIES

Local people are being asked for their views on proposed new planning guidance on providing new community facilities paid for by housing developers.

The consultation is part of the ongoing work on putting together the Local Development Framework for the area, which will replace the Thanet Local Plan.

As part of this work, residents are being asked for their views on the guidance for developers on the community facilities that they need to provide as part of larger developments in Thanet. The guidance expands on previous policies and aims to give more clarity and about what local people can expect to see as part of a new development and what developers can expect to have to deliver.

Recent developments where developers made contributions under the existing guidance are St. Augustine's Park at Westgate, where the developers Millwood Homes contributed over £60,000 towards new school places within 2 miles of the development, and at Westwood Cross developers Carillion contributed £307,500 to the installation of a new local bus system, now known as the Loop.

Planning Applications Team Leader Cherry Butcher said: "We're already working closely with developers to ensure that improved facilities that benefit the local community are delivered as part of any new development. We want to make that process more effective, which is why we're looking to introduce this new guidance and we want to hear local people's views on it. It's something that developers welcome, as they want more certainty in the process and want to know what's required of them and it brings benefits to local people, as they will have more idea of what they can expect."

The consultation runs until Friday 18 December and the document can be viewed and comments made online at http://consult.thanet.gov.uk or copies can be seen at the Gateway, Cecil Street, Margate and at all local libraries. It is anticipated that, once the consultation is complete, the new supplementary planning document will come into force next year.

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