Out-Law News 1 min. read
30 Mar 2012, 5:18 pm
The Government has published the consultation responses to its recently adopted Opportunity Area Planning Framework (OAPF) for south London's Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea area. The OAPF sets a target for around 16,000 new homes and includes proposals for an extension to the London Underground's Northern Line and a new linear park connecting Vauxhall to Battersea Power Station.
The OAPF has been adopted by the Mayor of London and has the status of Supplementary Planning Guidance to the London Plan. The framework has been produced by Government with input from Lambeth and Wandsworth Councils, Transport for London and English Heritage.
The consultation responses on the framework in 2011 show that there were concerns were expressed about the Framework, despite changes to it following a consultation in 2010.
Of particular concern was the impact on development of the Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy ("CIL"), which is a levy that will be applied to almost all development which receives planning consent on or after 1 April 2012.
"VNEB’s (Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea's) inclusion in the charging schedule will have a significant adverse impact on scheme viability within the OA," said Royal Mail Group, in response to the consultation.
The Mayor's CIL is designed to raise money for the funding of Crossrail and will be charged on most developments in London. It has been introduced by the Mayor under powers given to him in the Planning Act 2008.
"The threshold at which a payment of the tariff [Mayoral CIL] is required should be set at a more realistic level which does not catch smaller scale developments which in many instances are already at the margins of viability," said Addition Land, Network Rail and Southwark Diocesan Trust.
The Mayoral CIL charging schedule will impose a levy on new developments across London, dependent on location. It has split London into three zones which each impose a levy of between £20 and £50 per metres square of development.
"The final version is considered to strike a balance between conflicting views expressed over a number of issues. Importantly, the framework is consistent with London Plan policy and has the support of the boroughs," the OAPF said.
A number of proposed developments already have planning permission or are in the planning process, the Government said, and a Strategy Board comprising representatives from the Greater London Authority, Lambeth and Wandsworth Councils and other stakeholders has been established to guide development in the area.
