Infrastructure – general comments In areas of significant housing growth, appropriate funding must be consistently leveraged through developer contributions for health and care services in order to meet growing demand. We request that when setting planning obligation policies, the Council seek to address strategic as well as local priorities in planning obligations and engage the NHS in the process as early as possible.
We note the early ‘Infrastructure Delivery Plan - Supplement’ document, which identifies the need for up to 14.7 GP’s and 3086sqm floorspace for primary health infrastructure in response to the growth proposals.
We are keen to engage with the Council, and their advisors, to review and update these figures once there is clarity over the amount and location of growth proposals, and accurately assess the impact on existing health infrastructure, and what additional capacity (by way of adaptations, extensions and new build facilities) will be required.
A vital part of this is ensuring the NHS continues to receive a commensurate share of S106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) developer contributions to mitigate the impacts of growth and help deliver transformation plans.
The significant cumulative impacts of residential developments on healthcare requirements in the area should be recognised and, given their strategic importance, health facilities should be put on a level footing with affordable housing and other infrastructure providers when reviewing, securing and allocating S106 and CIL funds, in order to enable the delivery of vital NHS projects. It is imperative that planning policies are positively prepared, in recognition of their statutory duty to help finance improved healthcare services and facilities through effective estate management.