Over £1m slashed in Section 106 contributions for Middleton brownfield site

Over £1m has been lost in section 106 funding for the site to the east of Boothroyden Road in Middleton

More than £1m in developer contributions (aka Section 106 contributions) has been slashed from a 71-home development to the east of Boothroyden Road, which is set to be discussed at next Tuesday’s Planning and Licensing Committee.

Initially, the developers were set to contribute over £1.3 million in S106 money, comprised of affordable housing at 7.5% of the total scheme value (£831,562), primary education (£221,762), secondary education (£107,800), recreational open space (£77,101), outdoor sport (£84,811).

Now the developers will be required to contribute just £81,076 towards outdoor recreation, with no provisions for education or affordable homes.

The application was previously considered by the Middleton Township Planning Sub Committee on 28 October 2015 and the Planning and Licensing Committee on 9 November 2015.

Private landowners plan to demolish the existing buildings on the brownfield site, believed to have been vacant for about 12 years, and build up to 71 residential units including ancillary facilities and associated infrastructure. The dwellings would be a combination of two, three and four-bedroom mews and detached housing, plus two three-storey apartment blocks to the south-east of the site.

Planning officers said: “The viability report provided by the applicant concludes that the development is unable to deliver any planning contributions whilst still providing a reasonable developer return.

“However, an assessment by the Council has concluded that some of the costs have not been fully established, due to the uncertainty caused by the lack of an intrusive site investigation report. The Council has therefore concluded that the development is in fact able to provide a contribution of £81,076.

“The lack of contributions towards affordable housing and education provision, and the reduced contribution of £81,076 towards outdoor recreation, detract from the social sustainability of the proposed scheme. However, it is considered that the benefits of the scheme in terms of the provision of housing on a brownfield site outweigh the harm caused by the provision of reduced contributions.”

It has been recommended that planning permission be granted at the meeting “subject to the completion of a S106 agreement to secure a contribution of £81,076 towards outdoor recreation and subject to the conditions listed in the report.”

The Planning and Licensing Committee is open to the public and will take place at 6.15pm at Number One Riverside on Tuesday 14 November.