DONCASTER SECTION 106 AGREEMENTS Annual Monitoring Report 1 April 2013 31 March 2014 1
Contents Section Page No. 1. S106 Vision / Introduction 3 2. Background 4 3. Planning Activity 5 4. Financial Position 7 5. Implementation: Affordable Housing 10 Public Open Space 10 Transport 12 Miscellaneous 13 Management and Administration 14 Case Studies 15 6. Further Information 19 2
S106 VISION FOR DONCASTER To be a UK leading Authority in the implementation and governance of Section 106, working in partnership with Developers to continually improve and provide attractive neighbourhoods for Doncaster s residents 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This Annual Monitoring Report describes Section 106 activity for the period 1 st April 2013 to 31 st March 2014. 1.2 It sets out: background information on Section 106 Agreements information on the volume of planning activity resulting in Section 106 Agreements reports on the Council s Section 106 budget position information on the number, location and types of projects implemented 3
2.0 BACKGROUND 2.1 Planning Obligations, commonly known as Section 106 Agreements are legal agreements negotiated between a Local Authority and developers and are intended to make a development proposal acceptable that in the absence of such an Agreement would not allow planning permission to be granted. An Agreement must be fairly and reasonably related in scale to the proposed development and be relevant to planning, and should only be used where planning conditions attached to a planning permission would not provide an alternative approach. 2.2 In Doncaster, Section 106 Agreements have been used for a wide range of developments. Generally, it is possible to classify planning obligations in Doncaster in four specific categories: i) Affordable Housing ii) Public Open Space iii) Transport iv) Miscellaneous 2.3 The projects delivered through Section 106 Agreement are usually undertaken by either: the planning applicant or developer as an integral part of the overall development the Local Authority (or other statutory Authority, e.g. South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE)) if a commuted sum is provided. 4
3.0 PLANNING ACTIVITY 3.1 During 2013/14 a total of 11 Section 106 Agreements were successfully negotiated between the Local Authority and developers. This is significantly lower than in previous years due to the economic climate. Doncaster Council previously approved in the region of 40 planning applications per annum which were subject to a Section 106 Agreement, however this has drastically reduced since last financial year and has further reduced in 2013/14. 3.2 For a number of reasons developers do not implement all planning permissions and therefore if a planning permission is not implemented, the associated Section 106 Agreement will not be implemented. 3.3 A Section 106 Agreement may contain provision for more than one category. Table 1 below shows details of the 15 provisions required, by category, for the 11 Section 106 Agreements signed during 2013/14. Table 1: Agreements in 2013/14 Categories Direct Provision by Developer In-Direct Provision by Statutory Authority via commuted sum Yet to be Agreed whether Direct or In-Direct Provision Total Number of Projects Affordable 2 0 2 4 Housing Public Open 2 5 1 8 Space Transport 0 2 0 2 Related Miscellaneous 0 1 0 1 Total 4 8 3 15 Table 1 reveals that 8 of the 12 projects included within Section 106 Agreements signed during 2013/14 involved a financial contribution to the Council. There were 5 public open space projects, 2 transport projects and 1 miscellaneous projects which involved a financial contribution. There were no affordable housing projects that involved a financial contribution this year. 3.4 The need and delivery of more affordable homes in Doncaster remains a priority for Doncaster Council. However, there have been recent examples where the 26% affordable housing target has made developments unviable in some areas of weak demand and/or lower than average land values, where developers may find it difficult to agree realistic site values as private land owners hold out for optimum values. 5
In response to this, Doncaster Council has already been flexible and will continue to be so. It will look at the evidence of viability on a site by site basis using an independent 'open book' approach where, if appropriate, a lower percentage of affordable housing is negotiated. Alternatively payments may be deferred or phased to ensure viability of developments. During 2013/14, 2 Section 106 Agreements has been signed where an affordable housing contribution has been agreed in principle but confirmation of whether this will be direct provision or a commuted sum payment will be determined at a later stage. 6
4.0 FINANCIAL POSITION 4.1 Table 2 shows that during 2013/14 Doncaster Council received cash income including internal interest of 1,256.370 from Section 106 Agreements in order to implement specific projects defined in the Agreements. This income does not necessarily relate to the 11 Section 106 Agreements signed in 2013/14. It could relate to Agreements made in earlier years that were implemented in 2013/14. Table 2: Resources Received for Section 106 Works Year 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 Total 3,359,000 2,485,000 1,368,000 1,407,000 1,245,000 1,758,000 529,092 962,673 1,256,370 Categories Affordable Housing Public Open Space Transport Related Miscellaneous Income from Debtors raised Income from Phased Payments 507,253 0 669,655 30,015 39,571 0 9,876 0 Total 1,226,355 30,015 Figures in the table above do not include interest applied 4.2 During 2013/14 Doncaster Council spent 1,227,318 of the Section 106 budget on projects. A summary is shown below in Table 3 and a full breakdown can be seen under Section 5. 7
Table 3: 2013/14 Commuted Sum Expenditure by DMBC Categories Spend ( ) Affordable Housing 210,408 Public Open Space Transport Related Miscellaneous 661,971 120,812 174,882 Management and 59,245 Administration Total 1,227,318 4.3 Table 4 shows that by the end of March 2014, 7,457,698 of resources were held by the Council. Figure 1 illustrates how S106 resources are distributed between the different categories. Of the 7,457,698 60% was available for public open space projects, 32% for affordable housing, 6% for transport related activity and 2% for miscellaneous projects. 4.4 Table 4 also sets out details of Section 106 resources which are committed to projects. Table 4 shows that 63% of the affordable housing budget, 41% of the public open space budget, 5% of the transport budget and 38% of the miscellaneous budget is committed to projects over the next two years. After allowing for commitments the balance available for new projects is 4,034,373. Table 4: Balance Following Commitments 31 st March 2014 Categories Income held at 31.3.14 Committed Income at 31.3.14 Uncommitted Income 31.3.14 Outstanding Income as at 31.03.14 Affordable 2,422,570 1,523,561 899,009 0 Housing Public Open 4,476,744 1,831,083 2,645,661 522,261 Space Transport 448,177 26,860 421,317 75,990 Related Miscellaneous 110,207 41,821 68,386 0 Total 7,457,698 3,423,325 4,034,373 598,251 8
Figure 1: Section 106 Resources at 31 st March 2014 ( 000 s) 448 110 2423 Affordable Housing Public Open Space Transport Miscellaneous 4477 Total Section 106 Resources held at 31 st March 2014 9
5.0 IMPLEMENTATION Affordable Housing 5.1 In 2013/14, 11 affordable housing units were delivered through Section 106 Agreements. This was through direct provision by the developer rather than through a commuted sum and is shown in Table 5 below. 4 projects were provided through commuted sums indirectly via DMBC or other statutory bodies. Table 6 shows how these affordable housing commuted sums have been spent in 2013/14. Table 5: Direct Provision by a Developer during 2013/14 Neighbourhood Project Number of Units Finningley Manor House Farm, Finningley 11 Total Number of Units 11 Table 6: In Direct Provision by DMBC via Commuted Sum during 2013/14 Neighbourhood Project Spend ( ) Bessacarr/Cantley Mortgage Rescue Scheme 7,000 Borough Wide Empty Properties Landlord Grants 144,987 Mexborough Contribution to Guinness Northern 50,000 Counties Housing Trust re affordable housing at Mexborough. Wheatley/Intake Mortgage Rescue Scheme 8,421 Total Spend 210,408 Public Open Space 5.2 Public Open Space projects are implemented through direct provision by developers or in-directly by the Council following receipt of a commuted sum. In 2013/14 there was no direct provision of projects delivered by developers. Table 7 shows the 47 projects delivered in-directly by Doncaster Council using S106 commuted sums. Table 7: In Direct Provision by DMBC via Commuted Sum during 2013/14 Neighbourhood Project Spend ( ) Armthorpe Multi-Use Games Area, Briar Road, 120,839 Armthorpe Armthorpe Maintenance of Neighbourhood Equipped Area of Play and Locally Equipped Area of Play, Former NFD Depot, Armthorpe 18,913 10
Armthorpe Maintenance of Multi-Use Games Area, 3,500 Briar Road, Armthorpe Armthorpe Grounds Maintenance, Multi-Use Games 4,000 Area, Wickett Hern Road and Holme Wood Lane, Armthorpe Balby/Hexthorpe Capital Works, Woodfield Plantation, 33,350 Balby Balby/Hexthorpe Grounds Maintenance, Woodfield 40,920 Plantation Balby/Hexthorpe Grounds Maintenance, Springwell Lane, 9,512 Balby Balby/Hexthorpe Grounds Maintenance, Multi-Use Games 5,350 Area, Mallard Primary School, Balby Belle Vue/Hyde Park Landscaping and Play Area, Lakeside 3,282 Bessacarr/Cantley Capital Works, Play Area, Acacia Road, 21,186 Cantley Bessacarr/Cantley Cantley Park Natural Play Area, Cantley 20,323 Bessacarr/Cantley Maintenance of Tree Shelter Belt, 21,220 Lakeside Bessacarr/Cantley Grounds Maintenance, Ellers Road, 5,050 Bessacarr Bessacarr/Cantley Grounds Maintenance, Bolton Hills Multi- 1,000 Use Games Area, Bessacarr Bessacarr/Cantley Grounds Maintenance, Acacia Road 1,000 Play Area, Cantley Conisbrough/Denaby Grounds Maintenance, Low Road, 7,010 Conisbrough Edlinton/Warmsworth Grounds Maintenance, Martinwells Lake, 3,000 Edlington Edenthorpe, Kirk Sandall and Grounds Maintenance, off Sandall Lane, 610 Barnby Dun Kirk Sandall Edenthorpe, Kirk Sandall and Grounds Maintenance, White House 280 Barnby Dun Farm, Barnby Dun Finningley Pond Improvements, Finningley 17,000 Finningley Land Registry Search of Public Open 6 Space, Blenheim Drive, Finningley Greater Askern Grounds Maintenance, West End Road, 1,174 Norton Greater Bentley Park and Pavilion Improvements, 39,574 Bentley Hatfield Improvements to Jubilee Fields, Hatfield 2,895 Hatfield York Road Playing Fields, Dunscroft 1,495 Hatfield Improvements to Recreation Ground, 2,880 Station Road, Dunscroft Mexborough Grounds Maintenance, Schofield Park 1,020 Play Area, Mexborough Mexborough Grounds Maintenance, Pitt Street, 1,000 Mexborough Rossington Public Open Space Improvements, 56,483 Rossington Rossington Planters, Rossington 10,000 Rossington Grounds Maintenance, Holmescarr Children s Play Area, Rossington 1,030 11
Rossington Sprotbrough Sprotbrough Stainforth/Moorends Thorne Thorne Grounds Maintenance, Youth Play Area, West End Lane, Rossington Grounds Maintenance, Melton Road, Sprotbrough Maintenance of Protected Woodland and 3m Buffer, Park Drive, Sprotbrough Grounds Maintenance, Polton Toft Play Area, Stainforth Grounds Maintenance, Coulman Road, Thorne Ex Dunstan s Shipyard, off Union Street/Rope Walk, Thorne 1,000 5,990 3,020 1,000 2,020 1,470 Thorne History Trail, Thorne 1,800 Thorne Grounds Maintenance, Wike Gate Road 2,050 Play Area, Thorne Thorne Grounds Maintenance, Thorne Memorial 1,000 Park, Thorne Thorne Valley Public Open Space Improvements, 37,686 Tithes Lane and Play Park, St Mary s Road, Tickhill Torne Valley Public Open Space Improvements, 65,219 Galley Fields, Bawtry Wheatley/Intake Capital Works, Bloodstock Play Area, 26,436 Intake Wheatley/Intake Improvements to Access of Sandall Beat 17,908 Wood, Intake Wheatley/Intake Lake Edgings, Sandall Park, Wheatley 33,350 Wheatley/Intake Grounds Maintenance, Multi-Use Games 1,000 Area, Intake Wheatley/Intake Grounds Maintenance, Bloodstock Play 6,120 Area, Intake Total Spend 661,971 Transport 5.3 Through in direct provision by Doncaster Council and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) following receipt of a commuted sum, 12 projects were implemented in 2013/14. There was no direct provision of projects delivered by developers. Table 10 shows how the Council s transport related commuted sums have been spent in 2013/14 and Table 11 shows the projects implemented by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) via commuted sum during 2013/14. Table 8: In Direct Provision by DMBC via Commuted Sum During 2013/14 Neighbourhood Project Spend ( ) Armthorpe Real Time Information Unit at Bus 7,265 Shelter, Yorkshire Way, Armthorpe Armthorpe Bus Service Subsidy Contribution, 9,000 12
Yorkshire Way, Armthorpe Armthorpe Bus Shelter Maintenance, Yorkshire 14,146 Way, Armthorpe Armthorpe Carriage way Repairs, Holmewood 5,000 Lane, Armthorpe Balby/Hexthorpe Bus Shelters, Tickhill Road, Balby 7,100 Bessacarr/Cantley Safe Crossing, Gliwice Way, 35 Lakeside Central Contribution to White Rose Way 75,316 scheme Mexborough Signalised Crossing Maintenance, 2,950 Mexborough Total Spend 120,812 Table 9: In Direct Provision by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) via Commuted Sum during 2013/14 Neighbourhood Project Number Supplied Bessacarr/Cantley Travelmaster Tickets, Plots 8 and 9, 44 Lakeside Central Bus Service Subsidy, White Rose Way 1 Edenthorpe, Kirk Sandall Travelmaster Tickets, Church Balk 24 and Barnby Dun Gardens, Edenthorpe Wheatley/Intake Travelmaster Tickets, 12 St Aidan s Close, Clay Lane Total Number Supplied 81 Miscellaneous 5.4 Details are shown in Table 12 of how the Council s miscellaneous commuted sums have been spent in 2013/14. There have been no miscellaneous projects delivered directly by developers on-site during 2013/14. Table 10: In Direct Provision by DMBC via Commuted Sum during 2013/14 Neighbourhood Project Spend ( ) Edenthorpe, Kirk Sandall Improvements, Glass Park, Kirk Sandall 62,773 and Barnby Dun Great Adwick Employment Uses, Redhouse 104,850 Interchange, Adwick Great North Road Archaeological Works, Roman Ridge, 2,612 Scawsby Thorne Payment to Thorne & Hatfield Moors 2,581 Conservation Forum. Thorne Payment to Natural England 2,066 Total Spend 174,882 13
5.5 Management and Administration Table 11: S106 Management and Administration spend in 2013/14 Spend ( ) Revenue-Management and 59,245 Administration Total Spend 59,245 14
6.0 CASE STUDIES 6.1 Briar Road Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) As a result of a public consultation undertaken by Armthorpe Parish Council and the Area Communities Team, the development of a Multi-Use Games Area facility was identified as an aspirational priority within the local area. Working closely with the Parish Council, Ward Members and community, several potential locations were considered with an outcome of Briar Road playing field being considered the most realistic and appropriate location for the installation of a MUGA that would be best placed to serve the community of Armthorpe. Prior to the development of the MUGA, the playing field hosted two football pitches with the remaining field being underutilised other than for dog walkers. It was envisaged that the installation of a MUGA would significantly increase footfall and usage of the field and would promote the positive use and activity of the unused grassed area. To support this, it was agreed that the Parish Council s dedicated Sports Development Worker would look to plan and organise activities. The scheme also included new lighting to increase the opportunity to access and use the MUGA and it was agreed that following completion of the MUGA the Parish Council would cover the costs of all future energy related costs incurred by the use of lighting. The scheme was 100% funded from Section 106 Contributions and was delivered within the available budget. We have received very positive feedback from young people who use the MUGA saying it is a great facility and it feels really safe given its open location. 15
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6.2 Rossington Skate Park West End Lane On 27 th November 2013 an agreement was entered into between Waste Recycling Environmental limited (WREN) and the Council. The agreement was for an award of 37,270 as a contribution towards the installation of a skate boarding/bmx facility at an existing recreation site at Grange Lane, Rossington. 48,000 Section 106 monies were used to pay for the remaining cost of the project. As anticipated, stemming from local consultation, the project has been a huge success and activity/footfall at the park has far exceeded expectations. Positive feedback has also been received from many quarters of the community including the Parish Council, Ward Members, The Youth Service and many local residents. A letter of thanks was received from young people from Rossington Youth Centre who use the park on a regular basis: (see below) On behalf of the young people who ride the skate park at Rossington we would like to applaud your build and say thank you. The skate park is our every meet, our social place to see all our friends and have a chance to enjoy what we like doing best which is skate boarding, BMX biking, scooting and roller blading. The skate park keeps us out of trouble and allows all ages to ride together. We can t thank you enough for this; it has made our village a good place to be. Since completion earlier this year, the new facilities are being well used by children of all ages and it is a safer environment for the children to play instead of being on the streets and residents complaining of anti-social behaviour. Parents have commented that this area now gives youngsters a great place to meet, make new friends and keep active. A couple of examples of comments received from parents include: I have lived in Rossington all my life and have a 7 year old son. I believe this is the best money spent in Rossington over recent years as it provides exactly what the children want and is an asset to the village. It is nice to see that young children are also using the equipment to play on their scooters and mix with friends instead of using games consoles at home. In the future I would love to see the skate park expanded with more equipment or another similar project in another location in the village. My 3 children all regularly use the new skate park and it is a nice clean, well maintained area for them to play. It is fenced off so they are safe and I don t have to worry about the busy main road. 17
Ward Members have now agreed to install a youth shelter, as requested by Youth Councillors and lighting at the skate park out of Section 106 monies so it can be enjoyed safely all year round. 18
7.0 FURTHER INFORMATION Please contact the following for details of projects delivered during 2013/14 or for projects planned for 2014/15 or 2015/16: General Enquiries Laura Sharman, S106 Programmes Officer Tel: 01302 737638 Email: laura.sharman@doncaster.gov.uk Michelle Beeney, S106 Programmes Officer Tel: 01302 737477 Email: michelle.beeney@doncaster.gov.uk Affordable Housing Adam Goldsmith - Housing Investment Strategy Manager Tel: 01302 736683 Email: adam.goldsmith@doncaster.gov.uk Transport Kerry Perruzza -Transport Planner Tel: 01302 735151 Email: kerry.perruzza@doncaster.gov.uk Public Open Space Contact relevant Area Manager listed below: East Area Armthorpe, Edenthorpe, Kirk Sandall and Barnby Dun, Hatfield, Stainforth and Moorends, Thorne Dave Ridge Tel: 01302 862412 Email: david.ridge@doncaster.gov.uk South West Area Conisbrough and Denaby, Edlington and Warmsworth, Mexborough, Rossington,Torne Valley, Finningley Steve Thomas Tel: 01302 865554 Email: steve.thomas@doncaster.gov.uk North Area Adwick, Askern, Bentley, Great North Road, Sprotbrough Lisa Swainston Tel: 01302 862824 Email:lisa.swainston@doncaster.gov.uk 19
Central Area Balby, Bessacarr and Cantley, Central, Town Moor, Wheatley Claire Scott Tel: 01302 735484 Email: Claire.scott@doncaster.gov.uk 20