Council levy creates £4.5m of investment

COMMUNITIES across Reading have benefitted from £4.5 million in investment as a result of Community Infrastructure Levy funding.

More than 60 projects in the borough have been given contributions by developers as a result of conditions made in planning permissions agreements.

Projects include refurbishment of a number of play areas and parks, installation of zebra crossings and road safety schemes, and cycle paths.

It has also directly funded the refurbishment of the Maiwand Lion in Forbury Gardens, and the ongoing repair of the Cartwheeling Boys, a statue which commemorates the town’s twinning with Dusseldorf, which was damaged in Storm Eunice in February.

The Community Infrastructure Levy is a charge applied to new developments in Reading, 15% of which must necessarily be used to fund community infrastructure improvements close to the developments.

Micky Leng, Reading’s lead councillor for planning, said: “Reading remains an extremely attractive proposition for developers, but it is essential that residents across the town get something back for the developments which take place close to where they live.

“As councillors, we are often asked what is in it for local communities and this long list of neighbourhood benefits being delivered by the council as part of the CIL process spells that out.

“They range from major play area improvements, road safety schemes, a Reading-wide graffiti clean initiative and public art refurbishments, as well as much smaller schemes, which may not cost a great deal but are massively valuable to the communities which benefit from them.”

Some of the latest CIL-funded works include improvements to play areas at Coley Recreation Park, Cintra Park, Prospect Park, and Avon Place, repairs to St Laurence’s Churchyard and Broad Street.

It has also seen the installation of a skate park at John Rabson Recreation Ground, and the boroughwide effort to remove graffiti.

“The Council is always keen to hear from the public about local projects which could be of benefit,” said Cllr Leng, “and I would urge people to contact their local councillors with suggestions so these can be considered in the future against the CIL funding available.”