PLANS are being considered which will ensure a greater level of certainty around the money developers provide for community projects and infrastructure.

The council is looking at introducing a community infrastructure levy (CIL), which would set a figure to be paid for large-scale building projects.

As it stands, developers have to pay section 106 money, which is used to build services to benefit the community, such as a new school or playground.

However, very often Section 106 is negotiated after a development has been approved, leading to a degree of uncertainty.

The CIL would set a charge per square metre; the council is proposing a charge of £55 per square metre on new residential development and £100 per square metre on new retail development outside the town centre.

This would mean that for a new 100 square metre home the charge would be £5,500, which would be paid once development starts. The money would be split between town-wide infrastructure projects and those living close to the development.

A handful of councils have adopted CIL to date.

The Greater London Authority was one of the first authorities to do so, in April 2012, which has been helping to fund London’s Crossrail scheme.

Councils can implement a CIL only when they have an up-to-date local plan, which designates all the areas of development. The aim is to adopt Swindon’s local plan early next year following its consideration by the cabinet and full council.

Coun Dale Heenan (Covingham and Dorcan), the cabinet member for strategic planning, said: “The community infrastructure levy is a new, simpler way to allow local authorities to raise money from developers when they build houses to pay for essential infrastructure like schools and roads.

“The council is proposing that the existing formula is replaced with a set figure of £55 per square metre on new housing built, and £100 per square metre on all new retail development outside of the town centre. We must do all we can to ensure that the right infrastructure is built as the town grows.”

Before the council can adopt its CIL, the proposed charge rates will be subject to a public examination.

This will be conducted by an independent inspector, Mike Fox, of the Planning Inspectorate, on November 4 and 5 at the Civic Offices.

The inspector will want to be assured that the council is striking an appropriate balance between securing infrastructure funding from new development and ensuring the charge does not make new development unviable.