Appendix B
PLANNING PERFORMANCE AGREEMENTS
North Norfolk District Council is committed to supporting investment in new jobs and housing in the district and, with a strong planning policy framework in place in the form of adopted Core Strategy and Site Allocations Development Plan Documents, wants to ensure that major planning applications are considered in a timely and efficient manner.
Alongside the proposed introduction of fees for pre-application advice, the Council is also proposing to offer developers with proposals for major developments the opportunity of entering into a Planning Performance Agreement with the local planning authority. Such Agreements will involve early discussion of the proposal and agreement of a project plan which will detail the key issues to be considered in the development and assessment of the proposal as well as identifying the resources to be employed by the authority in the processing of the application and its presentation to the Council’s Development Committee within an agreed timescale.
The Council is proposing to introduce a Planning Performance Charter which will identify the types of applications the authority will be prepared to consider through a
Planning Performance Agreement, where such an arrangement is requested by the developer. This paper therefore seeks to introduce the concept of Planning
Performance Agreements and detail the types of applications where the use of such
Agreements might be seen as appropriate, as the basis for consultation with the local development industry.
Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) were introduced into the planning system in 2008 with the objective of improving the quality of planning applications and the decision-making process through greater collaboration between the planning authority and applicants. Such Agreements sought to bring the local planning authority, developers and key stakeholders together, preferably at an early stage in the development of a proposal, to develop a shared project management process for an application which would provide greater certainty and transparency in the development and assessment of development proposals.
Following the adoption of the Site Allocations Plan in early 2011 the Council identified staff resources through a Major Applications Team to support the development of applications on allocated sites. These arrangements are generally believed to be working well, but with the Coalition Government’s wish to support economic and housing growth as the principal means of rebuilding and strengthening the national economy, the District Council believes it can and should do more to support future investment in the District. The Council therefore believes that the use of Planning
Performance Agreements in the consideration of some major development proposals will provide greater certainty to developers and investors around both the process and timeframe over which development proposals are considered.
The Council therefore proposes that, at the request of developers, it will be prepared in principle to enter into a PPA on proposals for residential developments allocated through the Site Allocations Plan, together with industrial and commercial developments deemed as major developments.

Appendix B
In such cases where PPAs are proposed there will be clear expectations upon both the local planning authority and developers, as follows:-
In its capacity as local planning authority, the Council will:-
•
Identify a senior member of its Development Management or Major
Applications Teams to be the key point of contact within the Council for all matters relating to the application. This individual will, as appropriate, bring together a Development Team of relevant officers within and beyond the authority, to support the development of the proposal through to submission of a formal planning application, its appraisal and ultimate determination under delegation / presentation to Development Committee.
•
Agree a project plan with the developer identifying key issues, need for
Screening Opinion under Environmental Assessment legislation, need for technical reports relating to a proposal such as Strategic Flood Risk
Assessment, contaminated land reports, highways and travel plans, historic environment assessment and the timeframe over which such reports will be prepared; other key milestones such as timing of key consultations, submission of application and target date for decision.
•
Identify consultation arrangements with statutory consultees
•
Advise of required pre-application and formal consultation arrangements including briefings of local members and parish councils, the form of preapplication consultation exercises through exhibitions, presentations and information campaigns
•
Review project plan on a monthly basis – providing progress reports to the developer, senior management and members within the Council with details of any changes / slippage / revision to key project outcomes / timescales
•
Provide a validation checklist and details of fee to be charged so as to avoid any delays in the registration of the application
•
Advise on Committee processes including the need for site visits and the arrangements for the consideration of the application at Committee – including the nature of presentations and arrangements for public speaking.
•
Provide guidance on draft Heads of Terms for any Section 106 obligations, other planning obligations and draft conditions attached to any permission so as to minimise the time following any approval before a formal Decision
Notice can be issued and works commence on site.
Responsibilities of developers:-
•
Agree the project plan and commit to realistic timeframes for the commissioning / preparation of technical studies etc in support of the proposal.
•
Pay the required fee for the PPA
•
Engage in meaningful pre-application discussions with statutory bodies, key stakeholders and consultation with the local community and amend proposals

Appendix B as appropriate to address legitimate concerns expressed in response to such consultations
•
Attend project meetings with the lead officer and other relevant bodies as appropriate in the development of the proposal
•
Keep the Council informed of the progress of the project, and particularly of any changes / slippage / revision to key projects outcomes / timescales.
•
Submit a complete planning application, with relevant fee and supporting documentation, including draft legal agreements / unilateral obligations where required, and attend any site visits / meetings of the Development Committee at which the proposal is discussed.