08 February 2008
Government proposals to fund public services through the planning system have received a cautious welcome from local authorities.
According to the Local Government Association, the planned community infrastructure levy is a vast improvement on the planning gain supplement originally proposed by ministers.
But Martin Wheatley, housing programme director at the LGA, said councils would still need to beware of regional and national authorities trying to snatch money raised locally.
'Our main concern is making sure that the power to raise revenue and decide how it's spent remains with local councils,' he said.
Wheatley was speaking after details of the levy, part of the Planning Bill going through Parliament, were published by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Former housing minister Yvette Cooper, who launched the guidance on January 24 before the Cabinet reshuffle, said the levy would allow local authorities to raise 'hundreds of millions of pounds' to support new homes.
PFfeb2008
