Plymouth CIL draft charging schedule recommended for approval

The Council had received representations from a number of housing associations, criticising it for adopting an assumption of 15% of affordable housing in setting the CIL, in contrast with the Council's Core Strategy, which requires at least 30% of the total number of dwellings in private sector developments with more than 15 units to be affordable.

The representations said that the adoption of the 15% figure would undermine the achievement of 30% affordable housing provision and would effectively invite developers to seek to provide 15% affordable housing instead of 30%.

The examiner said in her report (15-page / 165KB PDF) that the 30% requirement remained a part of the Council's statutory development plan and that it would "carry a significantly higher status in any negotiations than the assumptions used in setting CIL".

The Council would continue to seek 30% affordable housing as a starting point, and any developers seeking to make a lower provision would be required to justify a reduction through an assessment of viability, as they are already required to do, the examiner said. She concluded that the 15% assumption therefore did not put the delivery of affordable housing in accordance with the development plan at risk.

The DCS set out a proposed retail rate of £100 per square metre for superstores and supermarkets of 1,000 square metres or more and a zero rate levy for all other retail developments. The examiner concluded that the differential rates were justified as survey evidence had indicated that the size threshold of 1,000 sq m generally marked the difference in use for Plymouth.

The Council said it expects to adopt the final Charging Schedule in April 2013 and to start charging CIL in June 2013.