Westminster City Council has started consultation on a new draft Planning Obligations and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (“SPD”), as well as a draft Affordable Workspace Informal Planning Guidance Note, to accompany the adopted City Plan. Both consultations close on 29 April 2022.
The SPD provides detail on the circumstances in which certain Planning Obligations will be sought by the City Council, along with how financial contributions will be calculated and Section 106 obligations used to control other aspects of development.
The draft Affordable Workspace Informal Planning Guidance Note provides additional detail relating to affordable workspace.
Unlike Local Plans and the policies within them, SPDs do not have legal “development plan” status. SPDs are intended to explain or guide the implementation of policy, rather than making new policy. They can be a material consideration of weight in planning decision making. Unlike local plans, they are not subject to independent examination by a Planning Inspector. This means that LPAs have more flexibility on their contents.
Download our briefing note providing a useful summary of the key new or amended obligations compared to existing practice. For more information on any of these topics, our expertise and knowledge in the sector, or to discuss a particular project, please do contact one of our team.
