Supplementary Planning Guidance
What is Supplementary Planning Guidance
Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) is defined as guidance which supplies supplementary information in respect of the policies in a current or emerging local plan or national policy. It is a means of setting out more detailed thematic or site specific guidance on how these policies will be applied in particular circumstances or areas.
SPG can take the following forms:
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Topical guidance such as shop front design or biodiversity
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Site specific guidance such as development frameworks or development briefs; and
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Numerical guidelines or thresholds which may change during the plan period, such as car parking standards, so as to avoid the current plan becoming too quickly updated. This does not however include where these targets are key policy such as targets for future housing provision
SPG will play a key role in supporting the new Local Development Plan| (LDP) for Torfaen. As LDP’s are a clear break away from the old style Unitary Development Plan|, they are required to be more succinct and strategic compared to the old style system and therefore SPG is likely to become increasingly necessary "to support the plan strategy or policies, or to provide more detailed guidance on major site allocations." (Local Development Plan Manual, June 2006, pg.31|).
SPG that will be produced for Torfaen
A list of the SPG that the Council plans on producing to support the LDP can be found in Appendix 8 of the Deposit LDP Appendices which is available to download from the Publications| page of the Planning Policy webpages.
In addition all development briefs and frameworks produced will be adopted as SPG to the current plan at the time of publication. For further information please visit our Site-Specific Development: Briefs and Frameworks| page.
Adopted SPG available to view here:
Planning Obligations SPG
New development inevitably has an impact on its surrounding area and community. The planning system aims to address any negative impacts and where possible deliver community and / or environmental benefits through planning obligations. The Council have produced Supplementary Planning Guidance to explain how planning obligations are used and set out expectations from new development.
What are Planning Obligations?
Planning obligations are an established and valuable tool within the development control process. They provide a means to enable a proposed development to proceed and to meet the needs of the local community associated with the new development by securing developer contributions towards the provision of infrastructure and services. They are commonly used to bring development proposals in line with the objectives of sustainable development as set out in local and national policy.
A planning obligation, also known as a Section 106 Agreement, is a legal agreement, executed as a Deed, between the Council and the applicant / developer and any others who may have an interest in the land. An obligation either requires the developer to do something or restricts what can be done with land following the grant of planning permission. The exact nature of each agreement depends upon the individual circumstances of the site and the proposed development.
The Planning Obligations SPG
The SPG refers to a wide range of matters that may be the subject of planning obligations. Not all of these matters will be relevant to every planning application. The Council will consider the issues that are relevant on a case by case basis, taking into account the nature of the development proposal, the site and the local context. It does not replace the negotiation of planning obligations as each application will continue to be considered on its individual merits.
The Planning Obligations SPG| in its entirety (including individual annexes) is available to download here. For ease of use, the individual annexes are also available to download at the links below:
Annex 1: Affordable Housing|
Annex 2: Highways and Transport|
Annex 3: Education Facilities|
Annex 4: Community Facilities and Regeneration|
Annex 5: Ecology and Biodiversity|
Annex 6: Recreation and Public Open Space|
Further documents available to download in relation to this Planning Obligations SPG are as follows:
Section 106 Agreement Template|
Unilateral Undertaking Template|
Planning Obligations SPG User Guide|
Further information on the Planning Obligations SPG
If you would like any further information please contact either:
Pat Weaver, Technical Administrator
Tel: 01633 647326
E-mail: pat.weaver@torfaen.gov.uk|
or the Forward Planning| team.
Other adopted SPG documents
Further documents adopted by the Council as Supplementary Planning Guidance are available to download below and / or available to purchase in hard copy by contacting the Forward Planning| team:
Affordable Housing Delivery Statement|
Cost for hard copy: £6.50 (including postage and packaging)
Further to the above the Council Report on the AHDS and the accompanying Report of Consultation| is also available to download here
Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site Design Guide (April 2011)|
Cost for hard copy (in colour): £14.00 (including postage and packaging)
Clarence Corner Development Brief (2003) (only available to purchase in hard copy)
Cost for hard copy: £6.50 (including postage and packaging)
Development and its Incorporation within the Landscape: A Guide for Developers (2000)|
Cost for hard copy: £6.50 (including postage and packaging)
Replacement Dwellings in the Countryside (2004)|
Cost for hard copy: £6.50 (including postage and packaging)
South Sebastopol Adopted Development Framework (2004)|
Cost for hard copy: £26.50 (including postage and packaging)
Trevethin Community School Development Brief (2008)|
Cost for hard copy: £14.00 (including postage and packaging)
Further Information
Further information regarding SPG can be obtained by contacting the Forward Planning| or Development Control| teams within Torfaen.