Effectiveness of developers’ green space funding in city put under review

A REVIEW is under way to ensure hundreds of thousands of pounds secured from private developers is being used effectively to enhance a Yorkshire city’s parks.

York Council has announced it is assessing how so-called Section 106 agreements are used to improve the city’s green spaces after about £1m has been secured from the private sector over the past decade.

The Section 106 payments were introduced nationally to give local authorities the ability to seek funding from developers to help to finance children’s play areas and sports pitches as part of planning permission for new housing schemes.

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York Council has used the Section 106 agreements since 1996 to obtain funding where it is not practical or desirable to have an open space within a development, especially within smaller construction programmes, or where an existing park nearby can be improved to cater for new residents.

The council’s Cabinet member for leisure, culture and social inclusion, Coun Sonja Crisp, said: “We now have the advantage of creating a clearer process for members and the public to see how the money is being used and enable ward members to see what funds are available to align the use of Section 106 funds. Over the last decade, approximately £1m of Section 106 payments has been received to improve the quality, capacity and accessibility of green spaces across the city.”

Section 106 payments have been used to help in the restoration of Rowntree Park, improvements to the sports club pavilion at Clifton Park and enhanced playground facilities at Elvington, Bell Farm and Grange Lane.

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