SEVENTY-FIVE planning applications have been approved subject to 'planning obligations' in the past 10 years in Warrington.

The obligations, known as 'section 106 agreements', are agreements between councils and developers that are attached to approved plans.

They are used by local authorities to secure the delivery of services or facilities – such as sports pitches, healthcare provision and bus services – as a result of a new development.

Following a Freedom of Information request by the Warrington Guardian, the council confirmed there have been 75 applications approved subject to a section 106 agreement since 2008, as of March this year.

The authority confirmed it monitors developments 'closely' to ensure the applicant abides by any obligation in place.

A spokesman said: "The council maintains a database of section 106 agreements and this is monitored by the planning policy and programmes team on a regular basis.

"Reports on the progress of applications, or developments, and the payments made, and how they are used, is reported quarterly to senior officers from across the council.

"This is then publicly reported annually.

"Up until this year, the annual section 106 monitoring report went to our development management committee.

"This year we included the section 106 monitoring report as an appendix to our planning annual monitoring report."

Enforcement action can be carried out if an obligation is not met by a developer.

However, no formal enforcement action has taken place in Warrington over the last 10 years.

The spokesman added: "The monitoring process is in place to remind the developer of their legal obligations, including the requirement for payment of any financial contributions.

"They are contacted, if needed, before payment due dates, or trigger points are reached, to ensure prompt payment and/or compliance with obligations."