A new system to secure funds from developments to help pay for community infrastructure projects such as schools, community facilities and public realm improvements will be discussed by Peterborough City Council's Planning and Environmental Protection Committee on Tuesday 4 September 2012.

Currently when Peterborough City Council awards planning permission for a development, consideration is given to the impact of that development on the immediate community and the city as a whole. The city council negotiates contributions from developers for infrastructure to mitigate this impact. This is currently administered under the council's Planning Obligations Implementation Scheme (POIS) and/or agreed using a Section 106 planning obligation.

-- Advertisement --

However, the Government has introduced a new Community Infrastructure Levy process which the city council needs to adopt to replace POIS. The levy will apply to all developments over 100sq metres and all new residential units. Social housing and most extensions to existing homes are among developments that will be exempt.

The draft Community Infrastructure Levy charging schedule will be considered by the council's Cabinet on Monday 24 September 2012. If Cabinet approves the draft, there will then be six weeks public consultation.

Councillor Peter Hiller, Cabinet Member for Housing, Neighbourhoods and Planning, said: "This new way of levying money from developments is very similar to what we administer under our current strategy. Developers already pay towards community infrastructure - this is simply a new way of administering that payment. For most developments the amount payable by developers will be roughly the same.

"Like the current system, the Community Infrastructure Levy won't pay for everything, it is a way for developers to contribute to the infrastructure we need at a level they can afford to pay.

"Once we have a draft charging schedule which is specific for Peterborough we will be asking for comments from the public. We want to make sure that the finished scheme is one which is set at the right level to ensure that it is fair for all and will allow the city to continue to grow."

(CD)