A councillor has warned that charges paid by developers to fund infrastructure projects could disadvantage some parts of Lichfield and Burntwood.
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) outlines how much must be paid, depending on size of the development and its location.
Lichfield District Council has approved a two-tier approach which will see areas such as Burntwood, Fazeley, Armitage and Handsacre would fall into a ‘low value area’ charging band, meaning developers would pay a CIL of just £25 per square metre for a residential project, as opposed to £55 in other areas across the district.
But Cllr Richard Cox, Conservative member for Armitage with Handsacre, said some communities could face being burdened with new homes without the financial benefits CIL payments will bring elsewhere.
“I’m slightly disappointed by the way the CIL has been structured,” he told a meeting of Lichfield District Council this week.
“Some areas, such as Armitage with Handsacre, could be considered of being in greater need of new infrastructure tan others, but they will end up getting the lower payment.
“I’m not formally opposing the CIL, but as a ward member for an area which is in the lower value zone I feel we are at risk of being disadvantaged.”
Says everything about the council that some areas are considered low value while the bubble that is Lichfield itself is given special status. So we all get the housing without the full money while they avoid anything but expensive and exclusive developments which pay them more. Ghetto planning if ever I’ve seen it