People are invited to have their say on an additional way of funding new infrastructure such as healthcare centres, sports facilities, and other community facilities in north Oxfordshire.
Published: Tuesday, 9th July 2024
Following approval from Cherwell District Council’s executive in April, the Draft Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule will go out to public consultation on Thursday, 11 July.
A CIL is a charge that local authorities can levy on new development, including housing developments, to ensure that the correct infrastructure supports new homes.
The consultation will allow people to share their thoughts on the proposed CIL rates, charging areas, discretionary reliefs, and viability report, and it will run until 23 August 2024. People can learn more and have their say by visiting, https://cherwell.citizenspace.com/planning-policy/cil-2024/.
Councillor Jean Conway, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management, said: “We are committed to providing the housing and places of work that our communities need. But as they are brought forward, it’s also our role to make sure developers provide funding for the correct infrastructure to support them, be that schools, active travel, open spaces or connectivity.
“The Community Infrastructure Levy would be a flexible new way for the council to generate this funding. We look forward to hearing from residents and other stakeholders before further work on this emerging policy is done.”
The CIL would help provide some additional resource for infrastructure in addition to that secured through Section 106 agreements (s106). This is another mechanism for funding new infrastructure, using legal agreements with developers building large developments in the district.
Whereas s106 agreements can normally only be used on large strategic developments, a CIL could help address the cumulative impact of smaller developments on existing infrastructure.
Unlike funds collected through s106 agreements, CIL funds can be spent at the local authority’s discretion anywhere within its area. They also benefit town and parish councils, who receive 15 per cent of CIL monies collected in their area. This rises to 25 per cent if they have a neighbourhood plan.
As well as housing sites, places of employment like supermarkets and warehouses could also be liable to pay the CIL to support the district’s infrastructure needs.
The CIL would need to be subject to independent examination before being implemented.