Planning officers update advice on implementing Community Infrastructure Levy
The Planning Officers’ Society has published updated practical advice on the Community Infrastructure Levy, warning that implementation of CIL is an opportunity “that should not be ignored” by local planning authorities.
The advice note, a copy of which can be downloaded here, covers a range of issues. These include:
- Infrastructure planning
- CIL charging authorities
- CIL and infrastructure planning
- Spending the money
- Setting the charge
- What rate to charge
- Assessing economic viability
- State Aid
- Collection
- Enforcement
- Working in two tier areas and across boundaries
- CIL and S106
- Avoiding overlap – the reg 123 statement
The introduction to the advice note says: “The importance of good infrastructure planning to support development is undiminished and with restraints on spending across the board, identifying and delivering funding opportunities has become even more critical.
“For most local planning authorities the implementation of CIL represents one such opportunity that should not be ignored. This places yet another demand on planning resources, which makes it even more important to use them effectively and demonstrate this positive aspect of planning.”
The advice note sets out the measures needed to take CIL forward, “recognising that this is a new initiative with little in the way of good practice or successful examples to fall back on”.
Graham Jones, Vice-President Emeritus of the Society and principal author of the advice note, said: "POS is in the fortunate position of being able to draw on the experience of working with over 50 authorities on this subject over the past two years and working alongside CLG on its implementation.
“We can therefore put forward this advice note with confidence that it is based on the most up to date information available, tempered with a solid grounding in the current context within which local authorities are working."
