Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document

Object

Representation ID: 8437

Received: 01/04/2020

Respondent: Hertfordshire County Council - Environment & Infrastructure Department

1 - Please change the URL in footnote to HCC Developer Infrastructure Contributions.

1.6.4 - Welcomes CIL.

1.9.2 - Highways & HCC wish to be signatories to all S106 agreements.

Flowchart on the final page – the penultimate box isn’t quite right and needs amending. It says “positive recommendations will be presented to the Planning Control Committee only following the completion of an agreed S106 Obligation document by all parties (not signed)…”. In legal terms, a completed document means the document has been dated. This can’t be done until after Committee (for obvious reasons). I think this is perhaps meant to refer to an agreed form s106 rather than a completed s106. Please therefore amend this to reflect.

Object

Representation ID: 8466

Received: 01/04/2020

Respondent: Hertfordshire County Council - Environment & Infrastructure Department

4.1.3 - Highways not consulted on all applications.

4.2.3 - S278 works may sometimes be sought not only in addition to s106, but in place of s106 through Grampian planning conditions. If the developer is solely responsible for delivering work by 278/condition then this is often a much better route to take. We request that this paragraph is amended to reflect this position.

4.2.6 - What does it mean when it says “Non-financial contributions towards sustainable transport may also be required”, when many of the measures listed do involve financial contributions, e.g. CPZs, TP monitoring. Please could you provide further clarity on this paragragh. HCC’s Guide to Developer Infrastructure Contributions may not provide an indication of the scale of Highway requests in the future. The document ‘Roads in Herts’ is likely to be renamed, so at this stage best to use a more generic title such as ‘Hertfordshire County Council’s Highways Design Guide’. This amendment should be made in the other relevant Strategies and Guidance column in the table before paragraph 4.1.

Object

Representation ID: 8467

Received: 01/04/2020

Respondent: Hertfordshire County Council - Environment & Infrastructure Department

7.3 - The youth section needs a paragraph referring to HCC as has been included within other sections. ‘Discussions should be undertaken at an early stage with Hertfordshire county Council to ensure that there is sufficient capacity of youth facilities to mitigate the implications of the proposed development. This includes having regard to the Hertfordshire County Council Guide to Developer Infrastructure Contributions to determine the level of contributions expected to be provided from the proposed development.’ [footnote reference URL]

7.6.3 - it would also be useful to include a reference to contributions to enhance and expand existing facilities, should this be appropriate. The reason for this is because new finds of significant archaeological material may not be sufficient on their own to warrant a new facility and may put enormous pressure on existing facilities.

7.10.2 - This paragraph ought to go further referencing Full Fibre and Gigabit Capable coverage which would be in line with new Government targets.

The heading of section 7.2 reads “Education and early childcare facilities”. Instead this should read “Education and early childcare years facilities”.

The last sentence of paragraph 7.2.1. makes reference to “…the demand for school and nursery places…”. This should read “…the demand for school and nursery early years places…”.

The last sentence of paragraph 7.2.2. reads “…be it expansion to an existing school or a new school, then serviced land will also be required.” This should have the following added and read; “…be it expansion to an existing school or a new school, then serviced land will also be required, which will be expected to adhere to Hertfordshire County Councils land specification.”

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service Response

1. Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Services (HFRS) capacity to deliver an emergency response is not unduly effected by individual developments but may be impacted by the cumulative effect of the detail within the draft NHDC Supplementary Planning Document.

2. Contributions may be sought from development schemes which have the potential to increase the demand on the Service as currently provided across the respective Council area. In those cases, HFRS may seek advice on planning obligations towards fire and rescue services via Section 106 (S106) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and also ask for consideration under the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where applicable.

3. HFRS would request that planners and developers continue to consult on requirements for the provision of water supplies and that the fire hydrant(s) served by the mains water supply shall be provided prior to any dwellings being occupied and to the satisfaction of the Fire & Rescue Service. Expansion within North Herts through development provides an opportunity for planning authorities to take a national lead by applying a proactive approach towards protecting the community and infrastructure through in-built fire suppression systems. HFRS would recommend greater inclusion of Automatic Water Suppression Systems (AWSS) in the built environment. Sprinklers save lives, protect property, reduce the impact of fire on the environment and support UK businesses by reducing interruption.

Object

Representation ID: 8468

Received: 01/04/2020

Respondent: Hertfordshire County Council - Environment & Infrastructure Department

The last sentence of paragraph 6.6.4 makes reference to Hertfordshire Waste Recycling Centres. These should be called Household Waste Recycling Centres (not Hertfordshire).

Object

Representation ID: 8469

Received: 01/04/2020

Respondent: Hertfordshire County Council - Environment & Infrastructure Department

8.3 - . It should also be noted that Therfield Heath is a significant archaeological site which the historic environment record notes includes prehistoric burial mounds, many of which are Scheduled Monuments. This is the most significant prehistoric landscape in the county. The SPD document should include measures to conserve and enhance the historic as well as the natural environment of this site.

The relevant Natural Environment sections that relate to the Landscape service area include 8.1 Policy Context, 8.4 Open Spaces and 8.7 Other forms of Green Infrastructure (GI).

Overall the document appears to include the aspects that should typically be covered by this type of document, which is welcomed.

In addition we support the reference to GI networks and connections for people and wildlife, beyond that identified as formal open space under 8.4, and the reference to the Districts GI Plan as the evidence base underpinning this.

Object

Representation ID: 8470

Received: 01/04/2020

Respondent: Hertfordshire County Council - Environment & Infrastructure Department

2.2.8 – this paragraph could be clearer that the solicitor’s undertaking is to cover the County Council’s costs. Please amend as follows inserting the bold text; “Applicants should also be aware that a solicitor’s undertaking to cover the County Council’s legal costs for negotiating and checking of the legal agreement as well as proof of title will be required by HCC where applicable”

2.6.1 – this paragraph is fine in principle but refers to the Councils legal costs being covered. I’m not sure if there is a grammatical error here and it should be “Council’s” and they are referring to NHDC’s costs only or if they’re referring to plural Councils (i.e. the County and the District). For the avoidance of doubt this section should make it clear that the County Council’s legal fees will also be payable.