First million pound community ‘claim’ for Teignbridge
Teignbridge District Council has issued its first £1m community charge to developers building new homes at Sentry’s Farm in Exminster.
Known as the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), this levy or charge on new housing and some retail developments will be used to fund infrastructure such as schools, green spaces, cycle paths and road improvements, providing vital facilities for Exminster residents.
Housing developers are required to pay a levy to Teignbridge at the start of house building.
Parishes like Exminster which have their Neighbourhood Plan in place are entitled to receive 25% of this levy to spend the money on infrastructure which they decide is needed. Parishes which do not have a Neighbourhood Plan in place receive 15% of the levy.
Councillor Humphrey Clemens, Teignbridge District Council’s Executive Member for Planning and Housing said: “The Community Infrastructure Levy is a way of ensuring that existing services are improved. It means residents, including people moving to new developments, can access much needed services.
“On top of this sum from Sentry's Farm, Exminster Parish Council will receive an additional £4m from developments at South West Exeter over the next 15 to 20 years. This will put the Parish Council in a very strong position to protect and improve local services for their residents.”
Mrs Josie Walledge, Chair of Exminster Parish Council, said: “It’s important that local people have a say as to how the Community Infrastructure Levy is spent. Through the Parish Council, decisions can be made to benefit local residents by helping to meet their priorities.
“Our Parish Council will receive £250,000 (or 25%) of the £1million claim and discussions are now taking place on how this could be spent in our community, according to priorities set out in our Neighbourhood Plan.”
The Exminster Neighbourhood Plan outlines that CIL will be used to: provide accessible, community, sports and leisure facilities; purchase and maintain public green open spaces within Exminster Parish; and support necessary infrastructure for education, health and transport.
