Housing developers will be made to fund school places

New guidelines will ensure housing developments will fund the school places created by new homes.

New guidance published by the government will require housing developers to negotiate with local authorities to ensure funding for school places is provided. Councils will be able to request funding to alleviate pressure on school places.

Current rules require developers to help fund infrastructure but investors will now also be required to contribute funding to local councils or provide schools themselves. The new rules will also allow councils to ensure enough land is set aside when housing projects are set out.

Schools Minister Lord Agnew said: “It isn’t enough for developers simply to build houses; we need to build communities. Schools are at the centre of any community and that’s why it’s vital that developers contribute to the cost of the school places they create.”

“This Government is already undertaking a huge expansion in school places, with one million new places on track to be created this decade. But schools can still find themselves under pressure from new housing developments, and where they do it’s right that where appropriate developers support these costs.”

The required funding and land can now be secured through negotiations with councils during the planning process. Public money can also be secured for schools but only the minimum necessary amount.

The new outlines have been added to the Planning Practice Guidance following an update. The rules ensure school funding is provided for schools and outline what is required for individual areas.

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