The LDP sets out the planning policies and identifies areas for future development. The larger of these areas are known as ‘strategic sites' and there has been interest on all of these sites which is very encouraging,

What are 106 contributions?

These are planning obligations which are set out in the Local Development Plan.

Put simply, the developer has to pay for facilities or infrastructure to mitigate the impact of the development. This is a legal agreement.

These payments have to be proportionate to the size of the development and the money has to be spent in the area where the development is taking place.

This term ‘infrastructure' can take a number of forms including affordable housing, improving roads, or junctions on roads; public transport; cycling or walking facilities; schools; community facilities or health facilities.

When are 106 contributions agreed with the developer?

The developer knows that they have to pay these contributions through the LDP. This is factored into their business plan.

106 contributions are negotiated with the council at the very start of the planning discussions and agreed if and when planning permission is given.

When are 106 contributions spent on supporting community infrastructure?

The developer either builds the infrastructure, or money is paid to the council at different ‘trigger points' of the development when there is a requirement for the infrastructure to be built. Once the money is paid, the Council is able to commission the design and build the infrastructure the development requires.

Why aren't the community facilities built before the houses are built and sold?

There are two main reasons. Firstly, a developer will not necessarily have enough money at the start of the project to pay for all their contributions, as they need to start selling houses or apartments to raise the income.

This is because they have a number of costs before any houses can be built, including buying the land from the landowner; paying for the planning application; paying for the design; and paying for the building materials.

Secondly, the infrastructure only needs to be built when there is a requirement for it. So,for example,there is no point building a convenience store or a community facility, if there isn't enough people to use it.

Is the affordable housing set out in the LDP paid for through 106 contributions?

Yes, affordable housing is provided from 106 Agreements. These properties are built in parallel with the properties that are sold on the open market. This isn't the only way affordable housing is built though, as funding is also provided through other council programmes and developments by Registered Social Landlords (Housing Associations).

Surely with large developments, we need to build more and more roads. Are new roads going to be built?

If there is a requirement for new roads new roads will be built,but,with the majority of developments current roads or access to the new development will be improved and modified to promote travelling by bus or walking/cycling (Active Travel).

By improving public transport and Active Travel we want to encourage people to leave their cars at home and use other forms of public transport. This will ease congestion, improve air quality, help create healthier lifestyles.

As with any other major city in the UK, public transport and active travel has to be reliable and an attractive option for people to use it.

Taking the development of Plasdwr as an example, what is the developer contributing?

• 1800 affordable houses or apartments (30% of homes on site)
• Walking, cycling, public transport and highway improvements
• Increased number of bus services and stops to travel from by bus
• Dedicated bus lanes to ensure travel by bus is quicker and more reliable
• Subsidies for a travel pass for one year
• One district centre and three local centres
• Three or four new primary schools (depending on need)
• A new secondary school
• Contribution to existing primary schools
• 30 hectares of open space
• Two 50 plot allotment sites
• Six playgrounds
• Two teen facilities, plus a contribution to a further facility off site
• A community leisure facility
• A library facility
• A primary care facility
• Contributions towards upgrading Fairwater Leisure Centre.

If a development is taking place in a specific area of the city, do local councillors put forward ideas on how the 106 contributions can be spent in the ward they represent?

Yes local councillors get the opportunity to put forward ideas during the planning application process. The Council wants to improve communication with local councillors on these issues though, so a new additional way is being proposed to work directly with councillors to draw up a ‘infrastructure ideas' for each ward in the city.

When these new developments have been built, how does the council think that the transport network will be able to cope?

As with any improvement, there will be element of disruption while the work takes place. In the longer term, the improvements that will be made to the roads will involve increasing the opportunity and viability to travel by bus, walk or cycle.

There cannot be an over reliance on the private car and if we want to make travel by other means more attractive, then we have to invest in the infrastructure to make it happen and this is what we are doing.

There is constant mention of the METRO, how will this link in with the new developments planned across the city?

Earlier this year, the Welsh Government announced the new contract with KeolisAmey to develop and operate the Wales and Borders Rail Franchise and the METRO.

This will revolutionise travel into and around the Capital City to make public transport a far more viable option.

The Council has and will continue to work with all the partners involved to ensure that if any new route is proposed through any of the strategic sites, it can be fully accommodated.