CBRE’s Planning team considers the Government’s intention to amend the CIL Regulations a positive move for the development sector and has responded in a Briefing Note entitled Reforms to the Community Infrastructure Levy. The proposed changes, it anticipates, be welcomed by the development sector.
The Government announced its intention amend the CIL Regulations on 25 October. These are expected to be laid before parliament by the end of the year and brought into force by the end of January 2014. The amendments are intended to improve how CIL currently operates. The principal changes include extending the vacancy test to exempt buildings from CIL liability; allowing for credit where the levy has already been paid and the proposed development has changed, and extending the date by which councils can no longer use pooled Section 106 planning obligations.
Stuart Robinson, Head of Planning, CBRE commented, “The further changes to the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations mark a positive change for the development sector. The changes will deliver greater flexibility in terms of implementation and improve viability for developers through new development/CIL payment phasing provisions and reduced scope for double charging. What is disappointing however, is the lack of transitional relief for land and property that incurs CIL charges because the charge was put in place prior to the amendments to the Regulations coming into force.”