Housing developers to get more time to pay community cash

Companies who build housing estates have to fund infrastructure to help areas adjust to more people.

Wakefield Council says it will manage payments it is due from housebuilding firms on a case-by-case basis.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is paid by developers to help fund infrastructure which is needed when new homes are built.

The cash is used to help create things like roads, doctors' surgeries and playgrounds.

But with big projects everywhere having stopped or slowed because of the coronavirus outbreak, the council says it will be "flexible" with how quickly the payments are made.

Councillor Darren Byford, portfolio holder for economic growth, said: "In light of the current circumstances, we feel it is important to support the development industry in any way we can.

"We hope this small gesture will relieve any further pressures and help to kick-start our local economy when we start to get back to some form of normality.

"The CIL money will still be generated, just over a longer period of time, and will still be spent on some wonderful projects across our district."

Local Democracy Reporting Service