Developer Contributions SPD - Huntingdonshire District Council

Libraries and Life Long Learning F:Huntingdonshire LDF | Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning DocumentF: Libraries and Life Long LearningContextF.1 Public libraries are an important asset to local communities. They provide free access to books andinformation services, and the internet, as well as opportunities for life long learning and leisure. Localauthorities must ensure that their libraries meet national standards and expectations, and provide thequality of service that people need, expect and will use.F.2 The District Council will continue to seek to secure appropriate library and life long learning facilities tomeet the needs of communities from new development sites in accordance with the Adopted Core Strategy,the Development Management DPD: Proposed Submission 2010, or successor documents as appropriate.The County Council is the responsible Authority for such infrastructure.F.3 Specifically, Core Strategy Policy CS10 sets out the contributions that for infrastructure may be requiredand will be applied to all development proposals across the administrative area of Huntingdonshire.F.4 The Public Libraries, Archives and New Development: A Standard Charge Approach was first publishedby the Musuems, Libraries and Archives (MLA) Council in 2008 and sets the nationally recognisedstandards. The latest update to this was published in May 2010.F.5 Huntingdonshire’s Sustainable Community Strategy 2008 – 2028 shows how HDC with its partners willbuild a better future for Huntingdonshire. It reflects key strategies, specifically the Local DevelopmentFramework which will be the delivery mechanism for the spatial elements of the strategy.Types of facilities/ services for which provision may be required:F.6 On site provision of land for space within development to accommodate an identified library facility. Incertain circumstances it may be more appropriate to have the facility at an alternative location off site. Insuch circumstances, where more than 50% of need for infrastructure is generated by the proposal, aproportionate financial contribution to purchase the land or provision of the land as an in-kind paymentwill be required. Contributions will also be needed in all cases for the construction or funding of said libraryservice facilities, including fit-out costs. This could entail a building within which a series of infrastructurefacilities are co-located and this would be considered on a case by case basis.Type and threshold for size of development for which contributions are appropriate:F.7 New housing developments within the District will trigger a need for library and life long learning facilities.Library and life long learning contributions will apply to any development of 10 or more dwellings unlessa Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule has been adopted by Huntingdonshire District Councilat which time contributions will only apply to large scale major (21) residential developments.Form in which contributions should be made:F.8 Contributions will be required in a number of forms as outlined below, taking into account specific siterequirements.The District Council, with appropriate partners, will negotiate with prospective developers with a viewto securing the necessary library and life long learning facility and fit-out needs for the development.Free, serviced land or a financial contribution to purchase land will be required as a minimum for theerection of appropriate facilities.As a first principle, the District Council expects developers to provide a financial contribution towardsthe delivery of the required infrastructure. If appropriate, consideration of the developer building the21 DCLG Development Control PS 1/2 statistical definition 2007/833