02 Oct 2013, 3:19 pm
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) launched a consultation in April on proposals to extend the deadline date for when local authorities will be restricted in their use of planning obligations for pooled contributions from April 2014 to April 2015, thereby potentially giving councils an extra year for transition to the levy.
However, figures released during this week's Conservative Party conference revealed that, although 70% of local authorities are in the process of introducing CIL, 55% are unlikely to complete this process in time for the April 2015 deadline, the Estates Gazette has reported.
The figures showed that it is taking charging authorities 24 months on average between publication of their preliminary draft charging schedule and implementation of CIL.
"The increasing involvement of the industry has undoubtedly slowed the process down, but the engagement is necessary to ensure the rates being set are viable," said Savills associate director Melys Pritchett according to the reports.
"The consultation process will speed up as the quality of charging schedules being published improves. But with there being only 18 planning inspectors currently undertaking CIL examinations at the moment, we envisage the acute shortage leading to a pinch point in the run up to the proposed revised April 2015 deadline."
The DCLG is yet to publish its response to the consultation.
