New reforms will give more of the benefits of development to communities while providing more certainty for industry, according to decentralisation minister Greg Clark. He promised more control for councils over how new infrastructure in towns and cities is funded, and more money to benefit the neighbourhoods where new developments are built. Mr Clark confirmed the Community Infrastructure Levy, introduced by the previous Government, would be continued, but reformed to ensure neighbourhoods share the advantages of development. The levy will give councils the option to raise funds from developers building new projects in their area, and provide a more certain and flexible system for housebuilders, cutting the costs of lengthy legal negotiations. These funds will be passed directly to the local neighbourhood so community groups can spend the money locally on the facilities they want, either by contributing to larger projects funded by the council, or funding smaller local projects. ‘Alongside the New Homes Bonus, this is another way to make sure communities benefit from development in their area. It will help change the debate about development from opposition to optimism’, he said.
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