Evolve Penrith claims that Penrith and other communities around Eden are missing out on thousands of pounds of money it has emerged, that can help deliver community infrastructure projects in sharp contrast to communities in the South of the new Westmorland and Furness Council district.

Communities in the South are already benefiting for thousands of pounds in Community Infrastructure Levy money paid by developers building houses and other developments in those communities.

In May Westmorland and Furness Council made payments to 11 town and parish councils in the South of the district totalling £131,787.45.

Kendal Town Council received £84,137.86 on the 3rd of May 2023, Ulverston Town Council received £20,645.35 and Kirkby Ireleth Parish Council received £9,726.79 in May with others receiving amounts ranging from a few hundred pounds to a few thousand in May.

The money comes from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) payments that is a charge which can be levied by local authorities like Westmorland and Furness Council on new development in their area. It was introduced by parliament as an important tool for local authorities to use to help deliver infrastructure needed to support developments in their area.

The levy only applies in areas where a local authority has consulted on, and approved, a charging schedule which sets out its levy rates and has published the schedule on its website.

Most new development which creates net additional floor space of 100 square metres or more, or creates a new dwelling, is potentially liable for paying the levy.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allows councils to raise funds from developers and householders undertaking new building projects in the local planning authority area. Councils use the money to help fund a wide range of infrastructure that is needed as a result of development. This includes new or safer road schemes, flood defences, schools, hospitals and other health and social care facilities, park improvements, green spaces and leisure centres.

From the Community Infrastructure Levy collected by the local planning authority, Town and Parish Councils will receive 15% of Community Infrastructure Levy charged on liable local developments in their parish area.

Any Parish Councils with an adopted Neighbourhood Plan receives upto 25% of CIL.

A Parish or Town Council must use CIL money to support the development of the local town or parish council area, or any part of that area, by funding the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure.

Parish councils can use the money on projects such as the provision of a sports hall, play area, bus stop, or education provision. Parish funds can also be used for the provision of affordable housing in the parish area.

Currently the former Eden Council area including Penrith has no Community Infrastructure Levy policy covering the area with only the south of the Westmorland and Furness Council district currently covered by a CIL policy.

It’s estimated that Penrith is missing out on hundreds of thousands of pounds from the housing developments currently under construction in the town that could be spent on community infrastructure projects in the town with the average 100 sq m property generating a £6,933.59 Community Infrastructure Levy.

Evolve Penrith have in the past called on the former Eden District Council to implement a CIL for the area to help fund the delivery of much needed infrastructure projects including addressing the shortage of GP and Dental provision in the town to improvements to youth provision, arts and culture provision and other public facilities as well as addressing connectivity issues in the area.

Evolve Penrith are now calling on Westmorland and Furness Council to act to level up and deliver harmonising of the new council district through the adoption of a Community Infrastructure Levy for the entire council area not just the south of the Westmorland and Furness Council district.

A spokes person for Evolve Penrith said "Penrith and Eden has seen the highest increase in council tax through the creation of the new council yet is seeing the lowest return on benefits from the new council and a shortage of delivery of much needed infrastructure despite a rapid increase in the number of new houses built in the town."

"The implementation of a Community Infrastructure Levy will help ensure Penrith and Eden benefits from much needed funding locally from these developments to provide the infrastructure needed in the community."

What do you think should the Community Infrastructure Levy be extended to cover Penrith?