SHDC report shows how Section 106 money is being spent in the South Hams

Tennis, cricket, swimming, biking, bowls and football are just some of the sports to have benefitted from contributions made by developers in the South Hams.

Add this to the extensive list of play park, recreation and open space improvements in Dartington, Ivybridge, Ermington, Chillington and Salcombe to name just a few and affordable housing, employment space and ecology projects - it is clear that a lot of work has gone into securing and allocating funds from new developments.

Next week, on Thursday, 16 September, South Hams District Council’s Executive will be considering a report which details how £5.9 million of Section 106 money, has been, is being, or will be spent.

Section 106 monies are the financial contributions sought from developers towards the cost of community and social infrastructure when a new development takes place.

The £5.9 million of Section 106 funding that the council will be discussing next week, has come from developments across the District including, Langage Energy Centre, Great Court Farm at Berry Pomeroy, Sherford, Origins and Yarners Mill at Dartington, Harford Mews at Ivybridge and many others.

S106 Employment Units Ermington

Cllr Hilary Bastone, South Hams District Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “There are so many varied and exciting projects on the list. It is wonderful to see our communities really benefitting from developments.

“In recent years there has been a lot of controversy over various new developments in South Hams, because rightly the public understand our need to protect our green spaces, retain the character of our District and build communities that are sustainable.

“However, looking at this report it is clear that there have also been significant benefits from some of these developments. As well as providing much needed local housing and job opportunities, these developments have contributed towards community infrastructure that we would otherwise have not been able to afford.

“This report clearly illustrates that we have followed through our commitment to pursue, collect and allocate Section 106 money and that we have allocated it to a wide variety of projects across the District. This includes money for affordable houses, to support local ecology, provide employment space and provide essential community facilities.”

Where money has not yet been spent, the council wants to continue working with Town and Parish Councils to identify specific projects that will benefit those communities where development has taken place. The council is keen to do this and spend the money before the allotted time to spend elapses.

The council negotiates Section 106 contributions with the developer during the planning application process. South Hams would then receive the payment when either the development work begins or, when it is partially complete, depending on what they have agreed. For example on a big development like Sherford, different amounts of money may be paid out as the development reaches certain milestones.

The aim of S106 funds is to mitigate the impact of development, and support or enable local communities to provide and improve affordable housing and open space, sport, recreation and community facilities.

S106 Affordable Housing St Ann's Chapel

S106 contributions can only be spent on new facilities or improvements where the new development has or will create a need for new infrastructure or the upgrading of existing infrastructure. This means that funding will normally be allocated to facilities within the same locality or catchment area where the development is located. The district council then acts as the accountable body for collecting and spending the S106 funding.

Cllr Hilary Bastone added: “I would actively encourage all members to engage with their Towns and Parishes and help us identify specific projects so that we can allocate the remaining funds.”

If you would like to listen to the discussion at the meeting of next week’s South Hams Executive – visit: https://youtu.be/yiKTpONl5d4