Builders asked for views on new levy

Wednesday 12 October 2016

The construction industry is to be asked for its views on whether a levy on land development, to help fund community infrastructure and encourage affordable housing, could work in Jersey.

The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, announced at the start of the year that he wanted to explore the possibility of introducing in Jersey a charge known in the UK as a community infrastructure levy (CIL).

A CIL could be levied on all new developments to enable improvements in public infrastructure, to provide affordable homes, and to support the States strategic aim to regenerate St Helier. Funds raised can be used by local communities to offset the impact of new development in their neighbourhood.

The Department of the Environment is holding a 'stakeholder consultation event', on Monday 17 October, 11:00 - 14:00 in the Don Theatre at Fort Regent, and anyone with an interest in the development or related sectors is invited to attend.

Deputy Luce said: “Key to our understanding of whether a development levy would work in Jersey is industry input on the workings of the Jersey property markets – that’s why we’re engaging the industry at these very early stages. I’d urge anyone in the development or property sectors to come along and give us a realistic appraisal of what will, or won’t work.”