Comments
Clarification is required as to the extent of education contributions likely to be required.
Paragraph 229 states that “if a new development is likely to generate enough children to fill a new school, Norfolk County Council asks developers for the full cost of building that school.” However, the paragraph goes onto state that “with the current CIL approach locally, only land can be secured through a S106 agreement and the build cost of the new school is claimed through CIL.”
From discussions with NCC Education and the GNLP it is understood that when a new School is required the situation will remain as existing i.e. the developer will be expected to provide the land for the School, with the construction being funded through CIL. If this position has changed, it will have significant implications for viability.
The flexibility provided in relation to provision of new schools (para 231), ensuring that they are only provided as and when they are required is fully supported.
As detailed in comments made to Question 17, when considering infrastructure, consideration should be given to whether it is unviable for some of the larger strategic sites, which have high infrastructure costs associated with their delivery i.e. schools and health centres, to pay the Community Infrastructure Levy, in addition to the policy requirements of the Local Plan. The potential for infrastructure costs which are specific to larger strategic sites to be secured by Section 106 planning obligations, in order to ensure that such sites are deliverable and, importantly, that there is certainty regarding the delivery of the infrastructure, should be explored. This approach, which has been adopted by Mid Suffolk District Council, is entirely consistent with the Community Infrastructure Regulations (2019).