^19,402,425 has been pledged to Plymouth City Council under planning agreements during the past five years, The Herald has revealed - but only a third has been received, and half of that remains unspent (link below.)
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=141507&command=displayContent&sourceNode=257390&home=yes&more_nodeId1=257393&contentPK=20428200The money came from Section 106 agreements, under which developers agree to pay towards facilities and infrastructure as a condition of gaining planning permission.
The figures grew as Plymouth experienced a building boom: but just ^6,603,876 has actually been collected and only ^3,272,326 of that has been spent since 2003-04.
^3,331,550 is still sitting in council coffers, and the Taxpayers' Alliance has accused the authority of hoarding the cash.
The council stresses that since there is often a lag between consent being granted and the start of building, money may not be collected for years, and then cannot be spent until the start of agreed infrastructure schemes, which can include park-and-ride schemes, residential parking, traffic signals, highways works, public transport, public art, nature conservation, play areas and parks.
Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that in 2003-04 Plymouth was promised ^1,961,528 from Section 106 deals, but this had grown to ^6,629,273 by 2006-07, although 2007-08 has seen a fall to ^2,149.318.
Of the money promised, ^10,227,342 has not been collected because it has yet to be 'triggered' by the developments starting, and ^1,190,260 will never be paid because planning consents have either been changed or scrapped. A further ^1,433,539 is outstanding, either only just triggered or the subject of legal action to secure it.
Industry experts are now predicting major changes as the Government overhauls the system next year. Though Section 106 deals will remain to secure 'affordable' housing and sort out specific on-site matters, most will be supplanted by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).
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