Planning minister Brandon Lewis has proposed new measures to speed up section 106 agreements including the creation of a dispute resolution service involving an external body or a ‘suitably qualified individual’.
The minister is consulting on plans to speed up the s106 process so applications can be decided more quickly and ensuring work starts sooner on site.
The proposals include:
- Setting clear time limits so section 106 negotiations are completed in line with the existing 8 to 13 week target for planning applications to be processed
- Requiring parties to start discussions at the beginning of the planning application process, rather than the current system where negotiations can often start towards the end
- A dispute resolution process where negotiations stall preventing development
- Using standardised documents to avoid agreements being drafted from scratch for each and every application
- Potential legislation in the next Parliament to give the new measures teeth
Lewis said: ‘Section 106 planning agreements can bring great benefits to local communities but too often they drag out planning applications for months.’
In terms of dispute resolution the Government is interested in views on an automatic or ‘deemed’ regime as well as one involving a service with charges, one which is not part of the conventional appeals system.
Also under discussion is whether the requirement to provide affordable housing contributions acts as a barrier to development providing dedicated student accommodation.
