The Highways Agency welcomes the opportunity to comment on the draft CIL provisions for Warwick District.
Whilst the Highways Agency is not in a position to comment on the underlying valuation or market evidence which has informed the proposed CIL rates - it considers that the Council's basis for seeking financial contributions from developers to fund District wide infrastructure requirements is sound, particularly where there is evidence of a funding gap.
The clarity provided in relation to the use of CIL relative to other S106 and conditions mechanisms - in both the Charging Schedule and draft Regulation 123 List, is welcome. It is important that site specific impacts for individual developments continue to be identified at planning application stage and, where necessary, implemented alongside new development, through the use of S106 Obligations and/or planning conditions.
The new CIL regime, which will secure funds to address District wide impacts of development, will need to dovetail effectively with these existing tools - and the Highways Agency will be keen to engage effectively with the Council to input to the management and prioritisation process, particularly where the funds are intended to be used for capacity enhancement works on the M40.
The Highways Agency has previously submitted representations to the Warwick Local Plan (Submission Draft) commenting on the content of the Council's IDP - and specifically the reference to 'smart motorways' on the M40. We would take this opportunity to reiterate that work to define the form and cost of future capacity enhancement works between junctions 14 and 15 is at a very preliminary stage and that work is ongoing to define the most appropriate form and timing of any future works and all potential funding sources.
It is important therefore that both the IDP and the Regulation 123 List are consistent in relation to the terminology used for future motorway improvements and also that both documents confirm that the costs and form of motorway capacity enhancements is preliminary at this stage, pending ongoing assessment.
The Highways Agency looks forward to ongoing engagement with the Council, and also with Warwickshire County Council in these matters. Please feel free to contact me on the details above if you wish to discuss this response in more detail.