The Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) has written to its stakeholders on the 24th May 2010 outlining the Government's plans for their reorganisation. You can download a copy of the letter.

Community Infrastructure Levy

The Planning Act 2008 provided legislation for the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to enable Planning Authorities to prepare a charging schedule which sets out the infrastructure allocations for a planned area in line with development plans. 

The Government released the CIL Regulations in February 2010 which will come into force on 6th April 2010. Guidance to support charging authorities covers the process for setting CIL charges and for preparing and testing the CIL charging schedule has been prepared.

Planning Obligations

A new policy document is required in light of the introduction of CIL and reforms to planning obligations brought about by the 2010 Regulations. In its final form, this policy document is intended to replace the Government's current policy contained in Circular 5/05: Planning Obligations, and form an annex to the new Development Management Planning Policy Statement. In the meantime, the policy in Circular 5/05 continues to apply. View the RTPI Response.

RTPI View

The RTPI supports the principle of capturing increases in land values arising from the grant of planning permission in order to secure funding for infrastructure directly and indirectly related to the development of the land. CIL has the potential to be an effective and fair means to ensure timely contributions in this regard.

CIL remains the most direct link between development plans, identified infrastructure needs and costs and eventual infrastructure levy liability. It is right that developers receive a transparent demonstration of the purpose to which their CIL payment is put and the relationship between their payment and infrastructure needs generated by their development proposal, through the preparation of a local infrastructure plan and programme. It also enables continued individualised section 106 or equivalent fund collection for special cases but ensures that these must have a ‘best practice’ and a development plan policy basis to continue.

While the RTPI is supportive of CIL in principle, a number of concerns were raised with regard to the detail of its implementation – see consultation response (Oct 2009)

You can view what the RTPI said about the regulations here and initial reactions here.

Further Guidance on Planning Obligations

Explanatory Memorandum 2010
CIL Guidance 2010
Overview to CIL 2010
The Incidence, Value and Delivery of Planning Obligations in England in 2007-08: Final Report
Planning Obligations: Practice Guidance 2006

Author:

Rebecca Coates

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

19-Jul-10

Categories:

Planning / Planning Resources, Policy, Practice, RTPI News 

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