Southampton CIL charging schedule recommended for approval

The examiner said in his report (12-page / 97KB PDF) that the residential charging rate would need to be reduced from £90 per square metre to £70 per square metre in order to meet statutory requirements. He said that a rate of £90 would pose a "significant threat" to the viability of new housing in the city.

The examiner said that the reduction would ensure that the rate would strike a "more realistic and appropriate" balance between helping to fund new infrastructure and the effect on the economic viability of residential development across the city.

The examiner also said that the Council would also need to make amendments to wording in the schedule to clarify the types of student accommodation which will fall under the nil rate "residential institution" category.

The Council had proposed that the residential institution category could include student accommodation comprising self-contained studio flats or cluster flats. However, any new student housing that does not fall within the residential institution use class would be subject to the residential rate.

The examiner said that this approach was justified. However, the wording in the charging schedule would need to be amended to clarify that self-contained studio flats and cluster flats would fall under the residential institution category.

"It is reasonable to conclude that, in general terms and with the modifications recommended, the Council will have found an appropriate balance in imposing the CIL," he said.

The Council said it expects to adopt CIL in August.