Scheme would replace Section 106 contributions

Croydon Council is investigating the use of a community infrastructure levy (CIL) scheme, which could be in place by the end of 2012.

The south London borough’s head of spatial planning Tim Naylor said workshops explaining CIL are scheduled for this summer, with full details to be revealed later in the year.

Naylor added: “It [CIL] provides us with a rate per square metre which will give us much greater transparency [than Section 106] as to what the council requires of developments, and provides more confidence for developers.

“It will enable the local authority to capture funding streams from smaller areas of development that we don’t exercise Section 106 on. It’s not that [developers subject to section 106] pay more but that everyone pays something.”

It is hoped that the income stream will allow the local authority to borrow more money for supporting infrastructure and development.

The council will begin a consultation on CIL in September.

Postscript:

A version of this story originally appeared on DevelopCroydon.com