CIL - Background

Charging Schedule adopted by Council 13th December 2012

The East Cambridgeshire Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule was adopted at a meeting of Full Council on 12th December 2012. The Charging Schedule is due to take effect from 1st February 2013. The adopted Charging Schedule can be viewed by clicking on the first link below.

Examination

The Examination of the Draft Charging Schedule was undertaken by Robert Yuille MSc DipTP MRTPI from the Planning Inspectorate. The Examination hearing was held on Thursday 18th October 2012 at the District Council offices. The Examiner's report concluded that:

‘The East Cambridgeshire CIL Draft Charging Schedule provides an appropriate basis for the collection of the levy in the area. The Council has sufficient evidence to support the schedule and can show that the levy is set at a level that will not put the overall development of the area at risk. One modification is needed to meet the statutory requirements. This is summarised as follows: Delete differential rate of CIL based on the size of retail units.’

The Examiner's report and other Examination documents (including the Draft Charging Schedule and other supporting documents) can be viewed by clicking on the links below. Paper copies are also available to view at the District Council reception at The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, Cambs, CB7 4EE (Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, and Fridays 9am to 4.30pm).

Overview of CIL

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a new levy that local authorities can charge on developments in their area. The monies can be used towards the delivery of infrastructure and services required as a result of growth - for example, school places, health facilities and transport improvements.

The District Council intends to adopt a CIL levy by the end of 2012. The new CIL levy will be charged in £ per square metre of additional net floorspace. It will apply to all new dwellings, and other types of additional net development of 100 m2 or more. Development for charitable purposes and affordable housing will be exempt.

CIL will largely replace the current system of securing contributions from developers via Section 106 agreements. However, Section 106 agreements will continue to be used to secure local site-related infrastructure such as open space, access and habitat protection - and affordable housing. CIL will therefore operate in tandem with a scaled-back system of Section 106 agreements.

CIL will give the Council and local communities greater flexibility to help deliver infrastructure, as it is not ring fenced and can be spent on any identified local or strategic infrastructure need. It will also give developers certainty on what they will have to pay towards infrastructure.