Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Acknowledged
Local authorities prioritise affordable housing delivery over CIL establishment due to stretched resources.
Conclusion
Currently, stretched local planning authorities are likely to focus their limited staffing and resources on affordable housing delivery as a priority, rather than establishing and administering CIL, even where CIL may be financially viable. The reintroduction of strategic planning in England presents an opportunity for greater co-operation between local authorities, including by pooling CIL receipts to deliver larger infrastructure projects. This collaboration may also encourage more local authorities to establish CIL charging schedules across a wider area, and thus improve CIL coverage. This adds to the case that the Government must invest in dedicated planning officers for the new Strategic Authorities. (Conclusion, Paragraph 87)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government acknowledged the importance of strategic planning but focused on its Long-Term Housing Strategy and existing efforts to deliver 1.5 million new homes, including publishing a revised NPPF, launching the New Homes Accelerator, and announcing a record £39 billion of funding.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
The Community Infrastructure Levy will nevertheless remain an important tool for local authorities to use to help them deliver the infrastructure needed to support development in their area. To improve transparency on variation between LPAs and encourage uptake where CIL would be a useful tool for viable development, the Government has agreed to the Committee’s recommendation and commits to publishing a map of CIL coverage in England. To further drive up the number of communities benefitting, the Government’s English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will also extend the power to charge a Mayoral CIL across all Mayors of Strategic Authorities to unlock valuable infrastructure. Currently only the Mayor of London is able to charge a Mayoral CIL across Greater London, which has been critical in helping to fund the delivery of the Elizabeth Line.
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