Decision details

The Council has existing guidance ‘Open space commuted sum payments for new development’ to support negotiations on open space provision. This was published in 2014 and relates to the then draft 2005 Local Plan policy L1c.

The current Local Plan was adopted in February 2025. Policy GI6 ‘New Open Space Provision’ requires residential development to contribute to the provision of open space for recreation and amenity in accordance with current local standards and using the Council’s up to date open space assessment.

The guidance has been updated (Annex 1 – Commuted sum payments for open space in new developments) to support policy GI6 and to take into account the Construction Output Price Indices in updating commuted sum requirements per dwelling. It has also been updated to reference the introduction of a Community Infrastructure Levy charge from 1 February 2026. Open space standards from the 2014 document have been retained as these remain appropriate.

1. Retaining current guidance
2. Publishing revised guidance

1. Retaining current guidance

The 2014 draft guidance relates to superseded draft policy, affording it no weight in decision making. Further, it references data on construction costs which is significantly out of date, presenting an inaccurate negotiating position for the Council and resulting in a loss of income.