Following an examination hearing held in November, examiner Terrence Kemmann-Lane issued his report (12-page / 127 KB PDF) on the DCS last month. He said that the DCS provided an appropriate basis for the collection of the levy, that it was supported by sufficient evidence and that it would not put the overall development in the area at risk.
The examiner disagreed with representations that the proposed residential development charge rates were too high, finding that they were "reasonable and strike the appropriate balance". Recommending the charging schedule for approval, Kemmann-Lane concluded that the Council had "tried to be realistic in terms of achieving a reasonable level of income to address an acknowledged gap in infrastructure funding, while ensuring that a range of development remains viable across the borough".
The Council had proposed in the DCS to divide the borough into three charging zones: Zone A covering central Camden; Zone B covering the rest of Camden; and Zone C covering Highgate and Hampstead.
A borough-wide rate of £500 per square metre had been proposed for residential developments with fewer than 10 dwellings or less than 1,000 sq m of floorspace. For residential developments with 10 or more dwellings or more than 1,000 sq m of floorspace, and for private care homes, rates of £150 sq m in Zone A, £250 per sq m in Zone B and £500 sq m in Zone C had been proposed.
The Council had proposed office development charges of £45 per sq m in Zone A and £25 per sq m in Zones B and C. Student housing developments would be charged £175 per sq m in Zone A and £400 per sq m in Zones B and C, and hotels would attract a charge of £40 in Zone A and £30 in the rest of the borough under the DCS.
Retail and other commercial uses would be charged at £25 per sq m across all three zones under the proposals and a zero charge would be set for all other uses.
In addition to CIL charged by the Council, any developments in the borough will also be subject to Mayoral CIL. The Mayoral CIL charge in Camden is £50 per sq m on all uses except for health and education purposes, which are exempt from Mayoral CIL.
The final charging schedule is due to be discussed at a meeting of the Council's cabinet on 24 February. The Council said it intends to implement CIL in March.
