More funding for new community facilities as updated rates for developers agreed

Councillors have agreed revised rates that developers will be required to pay towards community facilities and local infrastructure that are needed as a result of development growth in the Vale of White Horse District.

Vale of White Horse District Council is able to secure money from developers towards the provision of local facilities and infrastructure through what’s called the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

The CIL rates were last set in 2017 following the adoption of Part 1 of the Local Plan 2031, but following the adoption of the Part 2 Local Plan it became clear the rates were not generating sufficient funds to help deliver the necessary infrastructure.

At the beginning of the year, we asked you your thoughts on proposed changes to the rates and these were taken into consideration before the council submitted an updated document for independent examination.

The examiner’s report and recommendations were presented to full council on Wednesday 6 October, where councillors voted to accept the new charges, which will come into force on 1 November 2021.

Debby Hallett, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet member for Corporate Services and Transformation, said: “We know how important it is to ensure any new development has the necessary infrastructure and community facilities.

“It’s only right that developers pay their fair share towards this, so I’m pleased we have agreed the updated charges.”

It comes as Vale’s Cabinet agreed to adopt an updated Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) at its meeting on Friday 1 October, which sits alongside the newly adopted CIL rates and also comes into force 1 November 2021.

The SPD sets out how the council can use planning obligations or ‘Section 106 Agreements’ alongside CIL, in order to secure developer contributions towards a wide range of infrastructure such as roads, schools, community facilities, health and social care facilities, parks, green spaces and leisure facilities.

Its adoption means the district now has an improved, up-to-date policies to assist developers and communities and provide clarity on the nature and type of contributions that will be sought from developments across the district.