To support the delivery of sustainable communities, the Council will ensure that suitable provision is made for new or improved infrastructure, required to meet the levels of growth identified in this Local Plan.

The Council’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan sets out the key infrastructure projects that will be required to deliver the objectives of the Local Plan.

Developers will be required to contribute to the reasonable costs of enhancing existing infrastructure or providing new physical, social and green infrastructure, required as a result of their proposals, through either financial contributions (including planning obligations or the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)), or by direct provision of such infrastructure on-site within the development.

The Council will use grant funding, Section 106 agreements, unilateral undertakings, planning conditions, and when adopted, the Council’s CIL Charging Schedule, to secure this. The adopted Planning Obligations SPD sets out guidance in relation to the negotiation of Section 106 contributions and will be updated in due course to reflect the Council’s approach to planning obligations once the Community Infrastructure Levy has been implemented.

Supporting infrastructure should be provided in advance of, or alongside, the development, unless there is sufficient existing capacity. The appropriate phasing for the provision of infrastructure will however be determined on a case by case basis.

Furthermore, the Council will continue to work with its partners to address existing deficiencies and secure appropriate levels of funding.

For more information please see the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan