INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY MOVES FORWARD

Later this year developers working on building projects across the district will be liable to pay Huntingdonshire District Council money towards new infrastructure projects which will benefit the local community. The council is aiming to introduce a new Community Infrastructure Levy by Spring 2012.

Councillor Nick Guyatt, Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning & Housing said: "This new levy will benefit all Huntingdonshire residents by helping to raise funds towards different kinds of community infrastructure across the district in a fair and transparent manner.  The funds raised will be used for a wide variety of projects including roads, transport, education, health, sport and recreational facilities."

Currently, developers pay towards specific infrastructure that is necessary to make their proposals acceptable in planning terms. This is called the Section 106 Agreement.  This will remain in place and the requirements for Section 106 Agreements are set out in a new Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document.

Huntingdonshire District Council has undertaken detailed research into the viable amounts that different types of new development will be able to pay.  For example it is proposed that developers of new houses will pay £85 per square metre of new internal floorspace – this equates to approximately £7,800 for an average sized new house.

There are different rates for retail, business development, hotels, nursing homes, agricultural buildings and health facilities.  

The levy will not be charged on normal household extensions below 100 square metres of floorspace. Affordable housing and a range of development by charities will also be exempt.

The Draft Charging Schedule will be subject to a formal independent examination in early March, leading to approval in April/May 2012.

All of the relevant documents can be found on Huntingdonshire District Council's website at http://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/cil and at Customer Service Centres at Huntingdon, St Neots, Ramsey and Yaxley, as well as libraries across the district.