8th July : 2:00 pm – 6:30 pm
A symposium as part of a joint University of Cambridge / TCPA research policy impact project.
This event is free to attend, please RSVP at the bottom of this page.
Introduction
The issue of taxes, levies and tariffs on the development value of land continues to be a hot topic. The government is committed to ambitious levels of house building and growth, but support from local communities will depend on the provision of adequate supporting infrastructure, affordable housing and development impact mitigation, much of which is funded from increased land values. Given the time-consuming nature of planning obligations, capturing enough value to meet these demanding place-making requirements seems likely to require increased use of non-negotiable, formula-based and standardised developer contributions.
The existing Community Infrastructure Levy is maturing and now raises an estimated £1.2bn per year. Planning obligations are again being used to impose tariffs or ‘roof taxes’. And although the government has decided to abandon the proposed new Infrastructure Levy, it is proceeding with a specific Nature Restoration Levy. So, what comes next?
At the event we will launch a major policy paper that is based on the implications of a year-long University of Cambridge research project which re-assessed the reasons for the repeal of all previous UK development taxes since 1945. The research, conducted at the University’s Department of Land Economy, challenges much of the received wisdom about the failure of previous taxes and opens up new directions for policy debate. This event provides the first public opportunity to hear about the research and its striking lessons for policy makers today.
Draft Agenda
| 2.00pm | Registration – tea and coffee available |
| Can we capture sufficient land value to meet the government’s housing and growth objectives? | |
| 2.30pm | Welcome and introduction from the Chair – Liz Peace |
| 2.35pm | The policy proposals: evolution or revolution? – Hugh Ellis, TCPA |
| 2.50pm | Initial responses to the proposals from the panel Tony Mulhall, Associate Director, RICS Gilian Macinnes, planning consultant Will Jeffwitz, National Housing Federation Followed by questions and discussion |
| 3.35pm | Comfort break |
| Lessons from the resilience of past and current approaches | |
| 3.50pm | Improving local areas through developer funding – Helen Hodgson, National Audit Office |
| 4.05pm | The research: do we know what not to do? – Miles Gibson |
| 4.20pm | Reflections on what we have learnt – Stephen Aldridge, MHCLG |
| 4.30pm | Questions and discussion |
| 4.50pm | Final reflections – Miles Gibson and Hugh Ellis |
| 5.00pm | Thank you from the Chair |
| Close of formal proceedings | |
| 5.00pm-6.30pm | Refreshments will then be served in the Council Chamber with a further opportunity to continue discussions in a more informal setting. |
This project is funded by the University of Cambridge’s Social Science Impact Fund, Department of Land Economy and Centre for Science & Policy; by the Town & Country Planning Association; and by the Lady Margaret Paterson Osborn Trust.
