Developers face £20,000 tax for each property
Developers who want to build major housing projects in Northampton could soon be forced to pay a 'roof tax' of £20,000 per property.
The West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) has proposed the move to raise money for schemes such as new roads, schools and hospitals.
It would affect all developments of more than 50 houses which are built on greenfield sites in Northampton, Daventry and Towcester.
The WNDC's deputy chairman, John Weir, said: "I think the real and clear message about this is it will help guarantee that for every green acre that's built on we'll secure between 900,000 and 1 million of investment.
"That money will be used for things such as affordable housing for first-time buyers and families who otherwise would not be able to live in their own homes, infrastructure for existing communities and enabling us to build high-quality houses.
"Without doubt, this is a win-win situation for everyone who currently lives in the area and for everyone who comes to live here.
"And before the WNDC was created, this kind of thing just could not have happened." In the past, developers building large-scale projects have paid about 3,500 per property towards community facilities.
The proposed level of 20,000 per house would take Northampton's rate to the highest in the country.
The WNDC's chief executive, Mike Hayes, said the proposed scheme would lead to massive investment in the area.
He said: "The WNDC's job is to make sure new homes are supported by the schools, hospitals and transport investment that make communities sustainable.
"Under our proposals, 20,000 new homes are likely to provide around 330 million more for new infrastructure than current planning contributions.
"That's significantly more money for local communities and a big step forward for infrastructure investment in West Northamptonshire."
The idea of a roof tax was first pioneered in nearby Milton Keynes where the level was set at 18,000 per property in 2005. It now stands at 18,500.
The WNDC's plans are currently being consulted on but are likely to be approved later this year.
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