Infrastructure must be provided in a timely and, where appropriate, phased manner to serve the occupants and users of the development.

Permission will only be granted if it can be demonstrated that there is sufficient appropriate infrastructure capacity to support the development or that such capacity will be delivered by the proposal. It must further be demonstrated that such capacity as is required will prove sustainable over time both in physical and financial terms.

Where a development proposal requires additional infrastructure capacity, to be deemed acceptable, mitigation measures must be agreed with the Local Planning Authority and the appropriate infrastructure provider. Such measures may include (not exclusively):

Infrastructure will be secured through the use of planning condition and/or planning obligation and/or financial contributions through the Community Infrastructure Levy or its successor.

Developers and land owners must work positively with the Council, neighbouring Local Planning Authorities and other infrastructure providers throughout the planning process to ensure that the cumulative impact of development is considered and then mitigated, at the appropriate time, in line with adopted policies and published guidance.

In negotiating planning obligations, the Council will take into account local and strategic infrastructure needs and financial viability. The Council will ensure that the cumulative impact of planning policy, standards and infrastructure requirements do not render the sites and development identified in the Local Plan unviable and therefore undeliverable.

For more information, please visit Chelmsford’s Local Plan here.