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Housing

Bolsover District Council Considers Reducing Section 106 Contributions for 547-Home Development

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A housing development scheme in Bolsover, proposed by Persimmon Homes and Strata Homes, is facing scrutiny over potential reductions to Section 106 financial contributions towards local infrastructure. The applicants have submitted a revised proposal, arguing that the original contributions of £7,408,709 would make the scheme unviable. However, residents and campaigners are pushing back, citing concerns about the impact on the community and the potential for future developments to follow suit.

Key Takeaways:

  • The proposed development includes 547 homes, public open space, and associated infrastructure, with the original Section 106 contributions totaling £7,408,709.
  • The developers claim that the original contributions would make the scheme unviable, but residents argue that the scheme can support these contributions or alternatively 10% on-site affordable housing with reduced S106 contributions.
  • The council's independent viability expert, CP Viability Ltd, agrees that the scheme is viable with the original S106 contributions or 10% on-site affordable housing, but reducing S106 contributions would compromise the integrity of the planning process.
  • Resident Edward West states that the developers should fully mitigate the impact of the development on the Bolsover community through a revised S106 agreement.
  • Campaigner Dom Webb emphasizes that the council's own expert has provided evidence that the scheme is viable with the original S106 obligations, rendering the modifications unjustified.

Statistics:

  • The proposed development includes 547 homes.
  • The original Section 106 contributions total £7,408,709.
  • The revised proposal suggests reducing S106 contributions to approximately £3.9 million.
  • The scheme's viability would allow for 55 onsite affordable units if S106 contributions were reduced to £3.9 million.
  • The combined earnings of the developers are £163.4m, with a profit of £28.6m.

Sources:

  • Bolsover District Council
  • CP Viability Ltd
  • Persimmon Homes and Strata Homes
  • Edward West, resident
  • Dom Webb, campaigner
  • Ferne Hibbins, resident
  • Derbyshire County Council's strategic planning team
  • Highways authority
  • Bolsover District Council's urban design team
  • Leisure services

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