Tax threat to developers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.DEVELOPERS WHO build houses in the countryside should face a new series of hefty financial penalties, the Urban Task Force, the group of experts set up to solve Britain's town-versus-country problem, recommended yesterday.
The new charges, to be known as environmental impact fees, would be based directly on the negative effects new housing had on the area concerned - such as loss of landscape, harm to wildlife, or increased air pollution caused by increased road traffic.
The idea, at present being tried out in Germany, is the most radical of the 100-plus proposals contained in the task force's report, Towards an Urban Renaissance, which offers a detailed blueprint of how to revive Britain's declining towns and cities and control the consequent spread of building in the countryside. After a year examining the problem, the 14-strong commission, chaired by the architect Lord Rogers of Riverside, says the Government will not meet its target of building 60 per cent of new homes on brownfield (previously developed) land without exceptional measures.
The new fees would not constitute a tax, the task force says - they would be levied by local councils, rather than by the Treasury - but would represent an "alternative economic instrument".
Roger Humber, chief executive of the House Builders' Federation, said the system would not work because it would be hard to find a national formula that would fit all places.
Further reports, page 7
Leading article,
Review page 3
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments