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Community Infrastructure Levy faces an uncertain future

Published: 2010-03-10 08:56:04

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) will come into force on April 6th 2010. Whether it will survive the general election is another matter: if the Conservatives get in, it could be axed.

"We understand that a Conservative Government would scrap CIL and non-site specific planning obligations," said law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner, "and instead introduce a single unified local tariff applicable to all residential and non-residential development but at graded rates depending on the size of the development."

However, it added: "The reality is that this will be much closer to CIL than to the old system of section 106 Agreements." read more

Retail and hotel developers to help pay for Crossrail?

Published: 2010-03-10 08:46:32

Developers of hotels and shops, as well as offices, should contribute to the cost of London's Crossrail project, according to a report by a panel of planning inspectors assembled by London Councils.

The Mayor of London's proposal for funding Crossrail only targets developers of offices in excess of 500sq m. But the panel's report recommends bringing other developers into the scheme.

London Councils' concern is that the existing plans could deter office developers and have a detrimental impact on new jobs and the economy. read more

New SocInvest2010 programme announced...

Published: 2010-03-10 08:38:14

...funding regeneration in a cold economic climate

Many funding mechanisms developed in flusher economic times are either no longer viable or in need of a radical rethink. Against this backdrop, SocInvest2010, the UK's leading summit for regeneration finance, has announced a programme to provide fresh inspiration for revitalising funding.

Themes running through the conference sessions and workshops taking place on June 16th include:

•Making better use of existing assets
•Innovative approaches to funding
•The role of European funds
•New government policies

Regarding existing assets, local authorities, education bodies, health trusts and other public organisations have assets that are a source of present and future value. The question is how best to tap into these assets in the current environment.

One answer is to revisit joint venture models to examine how the risk and reward equation can be rebalanced to produce a return for both the asset holder and developer.

Sessions at SocInvest2010 addressing this issue include:

•Driving efficiencies in assets through partnership and joint venture solutions
•Workable strategies for affordable housing
•Next generation PPPs, regeneration partnerships and LABVs read more

An answer to the affordable housing crisis?

Published: 2010-03-10 08:08:38

"The question people are asking is where do you get more bang for your buck in difficult circumstances?" Jim Saunders, managing director of Regenter, an investor, operator and developer of housing-led community-based regeneration schemes, believes the answer lies in creating a new joint venture model.

"To do that you need to think differently," he told SocInvest.

One net effect of the recession has been to derail government plans to create three million new homes by 2020. Housing starts are the lowest since 1923.

But this is only part of the legacy: local authorities have inherited a housing development model designed for more prosperous times that no longer works. read more

King sturge calls for re-energised joint ventures

Published: 2010-03-10 07:58:11

"We've got to look at different ways of doing things." That's the call from King Sturge head of consultancy Andrew Ludiman ahead of the general election.

Whoever forms the next government, Ludiman said, one thing is certain: there will be a smaller pot of state cash for regeneration. But despite continuing austerity in the public sector, there will be opportunities to be pursued, including new approaches to joint ventures, streamlining the procurement process to remove disincentives for bidders, being more resourceful in the use of available funds and making better use of available assets.

That last point is significant not only to local authorities but also educational institutions, health authorities and other public organisations seeking to raise project funds.

Ludiman and King Sturge Financial Services managing director Chris Pratt discussed the options ahead of the SocInvest2010 financial summit in June. read more

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