Communities and schools benefit from developers financial contributions

Developer contributions, or S106 agreements, are negotiated by the planning authority with developers to mitigate impacts on larger development sites, to provide critical infrastructure projects, housing or community services so developers have to pay for necessary improvements to get planning permission.

 

As a result, Wealden District Council has recently authorised the following:

 

Uckfield College will receive £217,707.29 to expand the capacity of their specialist facility for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

 

Heathfield Community College will receive £108,316.48 also to expand the capacity of their specialist facility for pupils with SEND.

 

Herstmonceux CE primary school will receive £263,138.82 for additional spaces for Early Years, KS1 and KS2, a sensory space for pupils, a new entrance, reception and office area.

 

Hankham Primary School will receive £39,450 to improve and extend the outdoor facilities to enable more children to access outside facilities on the school site.

Stone Cross School will receive £91,737 which will enable all the children to access more facilities on the school site.

 

Hailsham Library will receive £31,959 for refurbishment.

 

Other S106 funding payments were granted and will see a number of bus stop improvements in Crowborough; the replacement of Isfield bridge; an additional service 28 bus between Hailsham and Ringmer and a High Street pedestrian improvement and 20mph zone study in Polegate.

 

Councillor Ian Tysh, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party) and lead councillor for Planning and Environment at Wealden District Council said, “We don’t often draw attention to these payments but it’s really important that local people see that the effort that goes into negotiating planning agreements on some of the larger sites in the district ensures direct benefits to the communities impacted by these developments.”