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Government urged to reject plans that could slash council infrastructure spending

The property industry has urged Government to reject proposed changes to its flagship Localism Bill that could see local authority investment in new infrastructure slashed across the country.

The British Property Federation today said it would strongly oppose any attempt to extend the scope of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) from its core aim – funding the vital infrastructure needed to support development – to an undefined obligation to ‘support communities’.

This could see CIL revenues designed for new roads, schools and hospitals instead diverted to plug the hole in the funding of other public services for which it was never intended.

The BPF argues that unless the £6bn predicted to be raised by CIL over the next decade was spent on infrastructure then development would be held back in many parts of the country and economic growth would suffer. In the 2010 Emergency Budget Government said that £200bn of investment in infrastructure would be needed by 2015.

It could also turn communities against development when they see that the new infrastructure needed to mitigate its impact can no longer be afforded. This would be counter to Government’s key aim of giving communities incentives to accept development in their areas.

The BPF spoke out after Government spokesperson Earl Attlee announced yesterday in a House of Lords debate on the Localism Bill that ministers would consider “whether widening permitted uses of the levy would make the instrument more effective and better placed effectively to promote, support and enable new development”. He also announced a Government consultation this summer that would allow CIL payments to be spent on affordable housing.

Liz Peace, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: “We are delighted that ministers intend to reflect on the proper working of CIL rather than making decisions in haste.

“However, we would urge them to appreciate that if CIL is diverted away from vital investment in new infrastructure then this will undermine the ability of authorities to deliver development and will compromise economic growth.

“It could also make communities more hostile to development – not less, as Government seems to hope.

“Concerns around new development are usually around the impact on local services and the need for new roads, schools and hospitals. Taking money away from this necessary investment will be seen for what it is - a desperate and crude attempt to divert CIL funds to plug a hole in the funding of public services.”

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Link to Lords Hansard text for Localism Bill Committee 12 July: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/110712-0001.htm#11071278000696

Earl Attlee, responding to an amendment for the government in the House of Lords, acknowledged the "point of the levy is to support and not frustrate the delivery of a local development plan".

However, he then added: "We want to reflect on whether continuing to limit spending solely to providing infrastructure restricts local authorities' ability to support and enable development of the area. We want to consider whether widening permitted uses of the levy would make the instrument more effective and better placed effectively to promote, support and enable new development.”

Addressing an amendment that would allow CIL to be used “for the building, improvement and renovation of housing” he said:

“That is unnecessary, as existing primary legislation in the Planning Act 2008 already contains the power to allow for levy receipts to be spent on affordable housing. However, regulations currently prevent that. Allowing such spending is therefore not a matter for the Bill, but the treatment of affordable housing is relevant to the amendments sought. I can confirm that we will consult during the summer on making that change through regulations.”

For further information, contact:

Patrick Clift, Media and Public Affairs Manager, on 07834 439 505 or at pclift@bpf.org.uk

Paul Sweeney, Media Officer, on 07841 732 194 or at psweeney@bpf.org.uk

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