Stage 2: Delivery of evidence base

Delivery of evidence base

The council is required to prepare and maintain a robust evidence base which should include research in respect of the economic viability and infrastructure planning.

CIL must be based on a sound body of evidence, and the council proposes to make all significant data and analyses used in preparing the CIL Charging Schedule available here.

Viability assessment

In order to establish economic viability across the county borough, the council in partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr Tydfil Council, jointly commissioned the District Valuer Services (DVS) to undertake a study, which considered the economic viability of charging CIL in the respective areas. The commission was completed in July 2012.

The objective of the commission was to look at the potential for charging CIL across a range of different uses. In order to do this the study looked at 69 (potential and actual) residential and commercial development sites across the study area. The study investigated market and development conditions and undertook development viability testing to consider the levels of CIL that various development uses and locations might support.

Study into the economic viability of charging community infrastructure levy in Caerphilly, Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Councils (PDF 6.3mb)

Infrastructure assessment report

In order to set an appropriate rate for the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), the council needs to identify the total cost of the infrastructure it wishes to fund from CIL and identify what sources of funding are available for its provision. The Draft Infrastructure Assessment Report - June 2012 (IAR) seeks to fulfil this function.

The IAR builds on the information already contained in the LDP evidence base. In doing so the IAR provides detailed information in respect of the cost of new infrastructure; the phasing of development; funding sources, and responsibility for delivery.

The IAR identifies an infrastructure requirement of £158m (estimated) with an estimated shortfall in the funding of this infrastructure of £92m in the period up to 2021. CIL funding is not intended to fill the funding gap in its entirety but is one of a number of possible funding sources.

Infrastructure Assessment Report (PDF 5.95mb)