Bedford consults on CIL preliminary draft charging schedule

The PDCS (12-page / 7.42MB PDF) sets out five residential charging areas across the Borough and proposes to apply rates ranging from £40 per square metre to £120 per sq m.

Charging Area 1, which covers Cople, Shortstown, Cotton End and Elstow, has the lowest proposed CIL rate of £40 per sq m. Charging Area 2 covers South Bedford and Kempston and has a proposed rate of £55 per sq m. Charging Area 3 covers the majority of the Borough, including Oakley, Thurleigh and Wymington, and has a proposed rate of £100 per sq m.

The highest proposed rate, of £125 per sq m, will apply to Charging Area 4, which covers North Bedford and Biddenham. The proposed rate for Charging Area 5 is £120 per sq m and this will apply in Bletsoe, Bolnhurst & Keysoe, Colmworth, Felmersham & Radwell, Harrold, Knotting & Souldrop, Little Staughton, Odell, Pavenham, Podington & Hinwick, Sharnbrook, and Staploe & Duloe.

The Council said that the research for its viability assessment had demonstrated a lower level of residential development viability based on the typically lower housing values seen in the southern parts of Bedford with higher rates in the rural area and particularly in north Bedford and Biddenham and clusters of villages to the north west and north east.

For large retail developments over 280 square metres, the Council proposes a Borough-wide CIL rate of £120 per sq m. A proposed zero rate levy will apply to all other developments.

The consultation on the PDCS will run until 11 February. The Council said it hopes for its CIL Charging Schedule to be in effect by April 2014.