Cornwall Council is asking residents, businesses and developers for their views on proposals to introduce a planning charge on new developments.

The money can then be used to fund infrastructure projects such as new or safer road schemes, flood defences, new schools and health facilities, and improvements to parks and green spaces in local areas. 

Introduced by the Government in 2010, the Community Infrastructure Levy, known as CIL, allows local councils to levy a charge on developers carrying out new building projects to fund a range of infrastructure projects needed as a result of the development. 

The charges apply to retail development and all sizes of housing development and will be used to part replace funding collected through former Section 106 agreements.

The CIL will be charged as a fixed tariff per square metre of new floor space created by developments. This will mean it will affect small as well as large developments.

The level of the rate will be set by the Council in consultation with local communities and developers, and tested through an independent examination to ensure it will raise the level of funding needed to deliver the infrastructure without affecting the viability of the development.

The council has drawn up draft charges and is now seeking views from residents, businesses and developers.

Consultation is taking place until Tuesday, February 14. 

People can give their views via our online survey at www.cornwall.gov.uk/CIL or can visit their local library and one stop shop where paper copies of the survey will be available.

More information is available from www.cornwall.gov.uk/cil as well in libraries, information services and one stop shops.