Consultation Response - Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback to the proposed CIL for Warwick District.

Network Rail is the "not for dividend" owner and operator of Britain's railway infrastructure, which includes the tracks, signals, tunnels, bridges, viaducts, level crossings and stations - the largest of which we also manage. All profits made by the company, including from commercial development, are reinvested directly back into the network, and any loss of income through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) represents the direct loss of railway infrastructure investment, and ultimately public transport provision.

Network Rail welcomes the opportunity to respond to the consultation on the Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule for Warwick District Council, published in June 2013. Network Rail's response to the Draft Charging Schedule is summarised below:

*Network Rail believes that developments on the railway infrastructure should be exempt from CIL or that its development should at least be classified as payments in-kind;

*We would encourage the railways to be included within the list of the types of infrastructure projects that will be funded through CIL;

*We welcome the fact that community facilities are exempt and industrial development is charged at a nil rate. It would be beneficial to make it clear within the document that any development associated with the railway (depots, stations, passenger facilities, passenger car parks, offices etc) are exempt or charged at a nil rate. We consider that imposing a charge on one infrastructure project to pay for another in an inefficient way of securing funding.