NEWPORT City Council is considering bringing in new charges for housing developers to fund facilities such as roads, healthcare and green space improvements.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), introduced by the Government in April 2010, will apply to certain types of new development.

The money can be used to fund a wide range of infrastructure that is needed as a result of development including new or safer road schemes, flood defences, schools, hospitals and other health and social care facilities, park improvements, green spaces and leisure centres.

The idea is to stop lengthy discussions between planning authorities and developers over financial contributions, as the levy will be a set rate and non-negotiable.

Cabinet member for regeneration and development John Richard will decide whether to begin a six-week public consultation on the proposals today (June 15).

A report to cllr Richards says: "The rates must be set at an appropriate level which helps secure reasonable infrastructure contributions necessary to support growth, but must not be set at a level that is too high so as to potentially stifle growth."

Developments that will not pay the CIL levy include those less than 100 square metres, houses, flats, residential annexes and residential extensions which are built by ‘self-builders’, social housing, charitable development and structures which are not buildings.

The report says: "There shall be no ‘double-charging’ for infrastructure from both Section 106 and CIL.

"At present, S106 contributions are not sought on the small housing schemes of fewer than five units. In conjunction with the recent affordable housing supplementary planning guidance, contributions from CIL and affordable housing will now be sought on schemes as small as a single unit."

The report says a scheme of four homes, which would have paid no S106 contribution in the past, would now need to contribute £38,718 per dwelling for facilities under the new scheme.