The Council launched a consultation on its preliminary draft charging schedule (PDCS) (11-page / 791KB PDF) earlier this month. The Council has proposed establishing three separate charging zones for residential uses and differentiating between developments comprising fewer than 10 dwellings and developments with 10 dwellings or more.
For developments with fewer than 10 dwellings the Council has set draft rates of £120 per sq m in Zone 1; £85 per sq m in Zone 2 and £50 per sq m in Zone 3. Developments with 10 dwellings or more are subject to proposed rates of £120 per sq m in Zone 1; £50 per sq m in Zone 2 and £0 in Zone 3.
The Council said that the ability to set a higher rate for developments of fewer than 10 dwellings is "largely due" to these schemes being exempt from providing affordable housing in line with the Council's Core Strategy which means revenue per sq m of new floor space is likely to be higher.
Convenience retail developments across the borough will be subject to a rate of £120 per sq m under the proposals and a draft nil rate levy has been set for all other development.
The consultation is open until 22 January 2014. The Council said it expects to "possibly" adopt CIL in early 2015.
