Campaigners welcome planning levy reform proposals

News the government could end the controversial house-extension taxes which saw some Surrey homeowners facing huge fines or jail has been welcomed.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) was first introduced in 2010 to enable councils to fund infrastructure projects such new schools, green spaces and health facilities.

But a number of people in Waverley were unexpectedly hit with tens of thousands of pounds in bills for domestic extensions or self-builds, with campaigners blaming complex rules and paperwork for clerical errors over who should be exempt.

Now the government says it will look to change the system to stop this happening, as well as launch a consultation in due course.

At a full meeting of Waverley Borough Council (WBC) on Tuesday, a motion calling for greater transparency and progress on the authority's review of historical CIL cases was approved with cross-party support.

However until the governmental changes become law, WBC is still bound by the existing system, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In addition, councils are also still prevented from paying back any money collected from its so-called CIL pot.

Equally, while the government has said it will consult on reform, no dates have been set.

Liz Townsend, portfolio holder for planning, says it is "desperately important for residents that this is resolved, and that needs to be done through an act of Parliament."

"The consultation is very welcome."

Matthew Pennycook, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, says he is "confident these proposed changes will ensure householders and self-builders, who would otherwise be eligible for a CIL exemption, are not faced with unexpected liability charges as a result of procedural errors in future.

"We are working to publish the consultation as soon as possible," he added.

CIL campaigners described the process to get to this point as "long, challenging and emotionally draining", but added they felt vindicated in the government's announcement.

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