Policy information sourced from the Epping Forest District Local Plan 2011-2033

D1 Delivery of Infrastructure

  • New development must be served and supported by appropriate on and off-site infrastructure and services as identified through the Infrastructure Delivery Plan Schedules.
  • The delivery of infrastructure either directly or through contributions will be sought where this is necessary to make the development acceptable, is directly related to the development and is fairly and reasonably related in scale to the development. In assessing the need for particular kinds of infrastructure, full regard will be had to the Infrastructure Delivery Plan Schedules.
  • Proposals must demonstrate that there is sufficient appropriate infrastructure capacity to support the development or that such capacity will be delivered by the proposed development. Applications must be able to demonstrate that such capacity will prove to be sufficient and sustainable over time both in physical and financial terms.
  • Where a proposed development is required to provide and/or contribute towards additional infrastructure capacity to support the growth, measures must be agreed with the Council and the appropriate infrastructure provider. Such measures may include (but are not limited to):
    1. financial contributions towards new or expanded facilities and the maintenance thereof;
    2. on-site construction of new provision;
    3. off-site capacity improvement works; and/or
    4. the provision of land. For the purposes of this Policy, a wide definition of infrastructure and infrastructure providers will be applied.
  • Infrastructure and services required as a consequence of development and provision for their maintenance, where appropriate, will be sought from developers and secured through planning obligations prior to the issue of planning permission. F. Exceptions to this Policy will only be considered if:
    1. it can be demonstrated that the benefit of the development proceeding without full mitigation outweighs the harm;
    2. viability assessment (with supporting evidence), which is transparent and complies with any relevant national or local guidance applicable at the time, demonstrates that full mitigation is not viable to allow the development to proceed;
    3. it can be demonstrated that a full and thorough investigation has been undertaken to find innovative solutions to make the necessary provision and all possible steps have been taken to minimise the residual level of unmitigated impacts; and
    4. obligations are entered into by the developer that provide for appropriate additional mitigation in the event that viability improves prior to completion of the development.
  • In negotiating planning obligations, the Council will take into account economic viability. Where relevant, development proposals should be supported by a viability assessment (with supporting evidence), which is transparent and complies with relevant national and local guidance applicable at the time. Where a viability assessment has been submitted the Council will undertake an independent review of that assessment for which the applicant will bear the cost.
  • Where viability constraints can be demonstrated by evidence, the Council may consider prioritising contributions in line with the IDP Schedules and phasing developer contributions appropriately.
  • Development proposals within the Garden Communities (as identified by Policy SP4) will be expected to contribute collectively, equitably and proportionally towards delivering the identified infrastructure requirements related to each of the sites.
  • Developers and landowners must work positively with the Council, other local authorities and 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 published policies and guidance.

For more information please see the Epping Forest District Local Plan 2011-2033