Homeowners on a Northampton housing estate say they have spent more than a year fearing bills worth thousands of pounds after becoming caught up in an ongoing dispute over a six-figure Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charge.

Residents on the Lakeside Close gated estate off Mill Lane, Dallington, first contacted the Chronicle & Echo in August 2025 after West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) issued demand notices totalling £123,095.54.

The money relates to a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a charge developers are required to pay towards local infrastructure such as roads, schools, parks and community facilities.

Archway Developments, which is in dispute with the council over the liability, said the matter is "not simply a case of an unpaid liability" and that there are "a number of substantive matters in dispute" relating to the council's administration of the CIL process. The company said it has already made payments towards the liability and continues to work with the council to resolve the outstanding issues.

The gated development just off Mill Lane comprises around 14 detached homes

placeholder image — The gated development just off Mill Lane comprises around 14 detached homes

WNC said it is continuing to pursue the developer for the outstanding CIL payment in accordance with national regulations. The authority said homeowners were issued with demand notices because, under CIL rules, landowners can ultimately become liable if the debt cannot be recovered from the developer. However, it stressed that it is currently only actively pursuing the developer and is liaising with its legal services over the remaining outstanding balance.

The amount was divided between the estate's 14 homes, with each household's share based on the size of their property. Some residents faced bills of around £7,000.

At the time, residents said the developer had assured them the issue would be resolved, but feared they could ultimately be left to pay.

Almost a year later, the dispute remains unresolved.

Residents on the Archway Developments estate off Mill Lane, Dallington, first contacted the Chronicle & Echo in August 2025 after West Northamptonshire Council issued demand notices totalling £123,095.54.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "Originally when it was all sent out it was quite a big hoo-ha. A lot of people were massively stressed about it.

"I've been given a bill for £7,000 from nowhere that isn't mine. I spoke to them once and they said, 'Don't worry, we're dealing with it. I don't know why you keep chasing the council. You need to trust us, we're going to pay it.”

When first contacted by the Chronicle & Echo in August 2025, Archway director Brett Twelftree said the matter was going to resolved “in the coming days”.

After this newspaper began investigating, residents were told the developer had started making payments towards the CIL liability.

In September 2025, WNC said those payments had reduced the outstanding balance and that it would continue pursuing the remaining amount. At that time, residents were told around £84,000 remained outstanding.

The Chronicle & Echo chose not to publish the story at the time after residents said they were concerned publicity could negatively affect the situation.

However, almost a year on, the issue has still not been resolved.

This month (July), a WNC spokesperson said: "We are still pursuing the developer for the outstanding CIL in accordance with the national regulations.

"Land owners can ultimately be held liable if the debt of the balance cannot be collected from the developer and demand notices were issued to all property owners within the development to inform them of this. However, at this stage the council is only actively pursuing the developer and is currently liaising with legal services due to insufficient monies being paid."

Responding this week, Brett Twelftree, from Archway Development, said: "As this matter remains the subject of an ongoing dispute between Archway Developments and West Northamptonshire Council, it would not be appropriate to comment in detail through the media.

"What I can say is that this is not simply a case of an unpaid liability. There are a number of substantive matters in dispute between the parties, including the council's administration of the Community Infrastructure Levy process and the information that has been provided to us. We have made payments towards the liability and continue to engage with the council in an effort to resolve the outstanding issues."

He said it was a “live dispute” and not a “straightforward refusal to pay”.

"This is not 'common practice' for Archway Developments. We take our legal and financial obligations seriously and have consistently sought to resolve this matter,” he added.

"We do not accept the suggestion that residents should ultimately be responsible for this liability. We have always recognised the concerns of residents and continue to work towards resolving matters appropriately.

"As discussions with the council are ongoing, I do not intend to comment further at this stage."

Labour Councillor Sally Keeble, who represents the Dallington Spencer ward, said: "There continue to be CIL and Section 106 legacy issues with the former borough council. However, it is completely unreasonable for the council to expect people to pay up such large amounts of money at such short notice. This is a legacy issue of a badly managed handover of the CIL liability from the now defunct Northampton Borough Council to West Northants and residents are unfairly caught in the middle of the dispute.

"Developers have the primary responsibility for payment of Community Infrastructure Levy – so it is their debt.”