DEVELOPERS with consents to build in Waverley will be hit by higher than average charges to help bridge the borough’s £128million infrastructure funding gap.

A government examiner has now approved the borough council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charging schedule for developers and it was adopted by full council on October 31.

CIL requires developers to contribute towards the cost of infrastructure to support any new development.

The money raised can be used to fund a variety of projects, including transport networks, school expansion schemes and leisure facilities.

The charging schedule proposed by Waverley would generate around £40,000 for every new home built in the area.

The examiner’s report stated the charging schedule “provides an appropriate basis for the collection of the levy in the area” and the council had demonstrated “the levy rates would be set at levels that will not put the overall development of the area at risk.”

Waverley’s ‘watchdog’ overview and scrutiny environment committee members were asked to comment on the charges, which comes into effect on March 1.

Council officer Gayle Wootton noted the rates Waverley would charge were high, but would not put developments at risk, adding the money could be paid in instalments and assets could be accepted in lieu of payments.

Committee chairman councillor Jerry Hyman, who is the leader of opposition group Farnham Residents, said: “We’ve got a lot of local builders and we don’t want to put them out of business.

“They will have to pay about three times more in infrastructure contributions as the current system.

“The examiner is happy, however, and this is a route to get infrastructure in, so I’m all in favour.

“But we don’t want developers saying they don’t want to build any affordable housing. This rate may create shocks within the industry.

“But it has been tested and officers are happy it will work.

“There could be some big money decisions, maybe £1million in an extreme case.

“I would like to know if councillors will have any impact on decisions to transfer land in lieu of CIL. ”

Waverley proposes to charge £395 per square metre for schemes of more than 10 houses, where there is no requirement to contribute towards Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANG), reduced to £372 where SANG applies.

Developments of 10 or less homes are not required to include affordable housing. They will be charged £452 per square metre without SANG and £435 with SANG.

A reduced rate of £118 per square metre applies to retirement and supported housing schemes that include affordable housing with no SANG and £100 if SANG exists. The rate rises to £280 without SANG if no afforable homes are included and £268 provided there is a SANG.

A zero CIL rate will be applied to residential care homes or nursing homes where 24-hour care and all meals are provided.

A supermarket development will be charged at £65 per square metre and a small convenience store will cost £75 per square metre.

A CIL for town centre retail will cost £25 per square metre, but out of town it rises to £95.

Waverley Borough Council will monitor the local impacts on development and review the CIL after three years. The new scheme largely replaces the existing Section 106 contributions.

Waverley Borough Council portfolio holder for planning , councillor Chris Storey, said: “It’s right developers should make a contribution to infrastructure required to support an increased number of residents.

“Adopting the CIL charging schedule will provide a significant increase in the council’s ability to fund the infrastructure our residents need.

“One of the chief causes of opposition to new development is the extra drain placed on the council’s already stretched financial resources.

“The adoption of the CIL will enable the council to ensure new development can not only help fund necessary infrastructure to support itself, but can also help improve services and infrastructure for the benefit of the community.”