IMPROVEMENTS to schools, roads and flood defences are just some of the projects which can be funded using a new type of “roof tax” which Chichester District Council will start charging developers from this month.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a new way in which the council collects money from developers to help pay for new and improved infrastructure.

Councillors formally adopted the levy at a full council meeting on January 26.

The CIL will be paid by developers on new homes built in the Local Plan area.

It excludes the South Downs National Park area which will be introducing its own CIL.

Chichester District Council will be responsible for collecting and overseeing how the proceesd from the new levy are spent.

The council says it is working with West Sussex County Council, parish and town councils and other infrastructure providers to prioritise which projects will be delivered in the area covered by the Local Plan.

Some CIL funding will be passed directly to parish and town councils to pay for projects in their areas.

The portion will be higher for areas which have a Neighbourhood Plan.

Parish and town councils will be required to produce a report on how they have spent the CIL funding.

Councillor Susan Taylor, responsible for housing and planning at the district council, said: “I am delighted to announce the Community Infrastructure Levy will be coming into effect.

“Because our Local Plan is up-to-date it means we are able to charge CIL.

“We can invest this money into local infrastructure such as improvements to new schools, parks, roads and cycle facilities which will help meet the needs generated by development proposed in the Local Plan.

“It also provides certainty ‘up front’ about how much money developers will be expected to contribute.”

Projects put forward for CIL funding are included in the council’s Infrastructure Business Plan (IBP).

The latter will be updated annually to take into account how much money has been made available and how much of each type of infrastructure is still needed.

More information about the CIL can be found at www.chichester.gov.uk/CIL including special guides for developers and city, parish and town councils.