The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a new levy which the Council will charge on developers or landowners when they build new developments. The money raised will help to pay for the infrastructure needed across Leeds as a result of growth such as schools, greenspace, flood defences, and transport improvements.
The CIL will be charged per square metre on most new buildings, based on their use and location. Once adopted it will replace the current tariff based system of planning obligations (Section 106 Agreements). S106s will continue to cover on-site measures that are needed to make a specific development acceptable, such as access works, drainage management, and greenspace. Provision of affordable housing will also continue as previously.
Charges have to be based on viability. The Council has to ensure that there is an appropriate balance between the rates being high enough to help fund infrastructure, and not harming the economic viability of development as a whole across Leeds. In order to decide the rates for the CIL, the Council has produced an evidence base including an Economic Viability Study (by consultants GVA).
Current Consultation
The first stage of public consultation is called the CIL Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule. This is your first formal opportunity to comment on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charges. The period of consultation starts from Wednesday 27th March to Wednesday 15th May (5.00pm).
We would like to hear your views on the proposed charges, the evidence base, and on any other matters which relate to these proposals.
Please send us your comments either by:
- email to: LDF@leeds.gov.uk or
- post them to: The CIL Team, Forward Planning and Implementation, City Development, Leonardo Building, 2 Rossington Street, Leeds, LS2 8HD
All comments must be made in writing by 5.00pm on 15th May 2013.
The relevant documents including the response form can be downloaded below or can be viewed in hard copy at libraries and one-stop centres and at the Development Enquiry Centre (Leonardo Building, 2 Rossington Street).
There are three main consultation events. These are on a drop-in basis so attendees can come at any point during them with the opportunity to ask questions. They are targeted at different groups but all are welcome to attend any event.
- Property industry: Thursday 28th March 9.30am – 12.30pm Civic Hall
- Town and parish councils, community groups, and residents: Friday 12th April 4.00pm – 7.00pm Civic Hall
- Property industry: Tuesday 16th April 11.30am – 2.30pm Civic Hall
Please can you confirm attendance in advance by emailing LDF@leeds.gov.uk or phoning 0113 24 78076.
There will be a further 6 weeks of public consultation later in 2013, and the aim is to have the final Leeds CIL adopted by April 2014 following an independent Examination.
No decisions have yet been made as to the detailed arrangements of how and where the CIL funds are to be spent, and therefore spending issues are not a part of this current consultation although any comments on these issues will be reviewed.
