SOUTH Craven politicians have voiced concern about a new method of forcing housing developers to stump up community cash.

The district councillors do not believe the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) will solve problems facing villages like Silsden, Steeton and Eastburn , as a result of massive house building.

Bradford Council this week revealed details of the CIL, which will begin on July 1 this year if approved by its Executive and Full Council.

The council plans to follow national government planning guidance to bring in the CIL to help fund local school places, improve walking and cycle routes, local recreation facilities and green space.

The CIL would be charged according to the floor space of each new house, with a different charge for each part of the district. Town and parish councils could receive up to a quarter of the proceeds.

The council says that if CIL was adopted, a fair, transparent and non-negotiable charging schedule would be fixed.

Coun Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said the district needed £688 million of infrastructure investment over the next 15 years based on the growth envisaged in its Local Plan.

He admitted: "CIL is never going to be enough to completely plug this gap."

Cllr Adrian Naylor, who represents Craven ward on Bradford Council, agreed that the CIL “would not come anywhere close” meeting impending infrastructure costs.

He said: “Silsden is getting more than 1,000 houses and requires a bypass, an upgrade to the electrical substation and trunk sewer, and a footbridge across the Aire Valley Road.

“You’re looking at £30 million for just these things. People will see houses built with a chance of infrastructure to follow, but we don’t know how it will be paid for.

Fellow Craven ward councillor Andrew Mallinson said that while he supported giving some of the CIL proceeds to parish councils, this would risk losing a strategic overview for what was needed for the whole district and ward.

“Parish councils could receive a very large sums of money. I worry about their capacity to manage and deliver what could be major projects.

“I’d like to see Bradford Council set up a governance structure to help parish councils with these projects.

Both councillors pointed out that at least three quarters of the CIL proceeds would go into a central pot to be spent by the council leadership.

Cllr Mallinson added: “They could just build a swimming pool in the centre of Bradford. Plans have been set out for city centre developments – they’re just waiting for the money to roll in.”