A total of £3,538,708 was secured for community facilities in the Vale of Glamorgan through legal agreements associated with planning permissions in 2018/19.

In the 12 months between 1st April 2018 and 31st March 2019 a total of 26 S106 agreements were negotiated with developers by the Council's planning team.

This money will now be used to provide or enhance facilities near to large developments, such as new schools, parks and open spaces, transport infrastructure, and public art.

Cllr Eddie Williams, Cabinet Member for Legal, Regulatory and Planning Services, said: "The projects delivered using S106 funding are now a key part of the Council's regeneration work.

"Recent schemes such as the redevelopment of the parks at Lougher Place in St Athan and Fferm Goch in Llangan have made a huge difference to local communities and would not have been possible without this funding.

"Similarly building affordable housing at Brecon Court meets a genuine local need for new homes and the new outdoor learning area for Oakfield Primary and Ysgol Gwaun y Nant allows staff to take their first class teaching out of the classrooms."

In addition to being used to pay for local facilities and infrastructure S106 money is also used to help fund schemes through the Council's innovative Strong Communities Grant Fund.

The fund provides a platform for community groups, the voluntary sector, and town and community councils to deliver their own projects.

For example, the Wild About Nature project in Dinas Powys, new fencing for Llantwit Major tennis club, and specialist bicycles for the Vale Adaptive Cycling Club were all paid for by S106 funding.

Planning obligation requirements secured this year have also included 'inkind' obligations such as the provision of on-site affordable housing, on-site public open space and public art.