Local Planning Authorities
Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) play a critical part in the estate development process. They negotiate with the Developer to ensure their plans and designs are fit for purpose. These normally culminate in a Section 106 (S106) legal agreement, which normally includes the delivery of an element of Open Space infrastructure.
LPAs need to consider the impact on local services and aim that any ongoing (publicly-funded) costs to maintain the delivered infrastructure is minimised.
What we have found in engaging with residents so far, is that the LPAs (generally) gloss over the impact of Open Space maintenance on homeowners, when they could easily apply the same rigour as they do for infrastructure destined to be adopted by local authorities.
The Challenges that Local Planning Authorities Face
- A lack of resource and funding means LPAs can’t spend too much time on each individual site and (perhaps) are not quite as thorough as they would like to be.
- A perceived lack of power to hold Developers to account, when the Developer veers away from the agreed plans.
- A perceived lack of interest in engaging with real homeowners that are impacted by the S106 agreements that they put in place.
What Can Residents First Do for Local Planning Authorities?
- We are already in discussions with local and central government over including the same rigour in the legal agreements as they do for infrastructure destined to be adopted by local authority departments. This can be achieved by the inclusion of some standard clauses in the S106.
- We have already proposed establishing a Resident Liaison Service on behalf of Developers. It would make some sense to extend this to include liaision with LPAs.
Are LPAs prepared to be open about improving the service they provide to residents? If this makes some sense to you, then why not get in contact with us?
