Shropshire Infrastructure Levy gets go-ahead from independent examiner

Shropshire Council has received a positive endorsement of its proposed Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) from an independent examiner.  The examiner’s report recommends approval of the proposed CIL Charging Schedule, with no changes to the proposed levy rates of £80, £40 and £0 (zero) per square metre for different types of development.

The levy will be used to benefit local communities, with 90% of the Shropshire Levy to be spent on local infrastructure priorities identified in partnership with the local town or parish council.  10% of the Levy will be spent on strategic infrastructure that benefits all of Shropshire.

Following hot on the heels of the adoption of Shropshire’s innovative Core Strategy, which allows rural communities to opt in to development, the Charging Schedule allows local priorities for spending to be highlighted through annual consultation using Shropshire’s localised planning approach expressed through its 18 delivery-centered Place Plans. 

Councillor Malcolm Price, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for strategic planning, said:

“Shropshire Council is leading the way nationally on developing proposals to place a levy on new housing development to raise funds for local infrastructure, contributing to the things that matter most to local people and helping to keep communities sustainable and flourishing in the future.  We recognise that all communities are different and that their requirements change over time.  To address and embrace these differences, each area has a separate Place Plan outlining people’s needs and priorities within that area. 

“Our Place Plan approach represents localism in action and has rightly generated significant interest from others.  The key to its success will be helping communities to deliver more for themselves by recognising the positive aspects that development can now bring to an area.  Our planners should be congratulated for continually providing new tools for councillors and communities to use.”

The CIL Charging Schedule is available on the Shropshire Council website and is expected to be adopted at the 24 November 2011 Council meeting, to come into effect for new planning permissions from 1 January 2012.