Council calls on Rayner for planning fee reforms

Waverley Borough Council has asked Angela Rayner to implement reforms to the Community Infrastructure Levy legislation

A Surrey council has written to Housing Secretary Angela Rayner calling for planning legislation reforms after residents were charged up to £70,000 for work to their homes.

Waverley Borough Council says current rules around the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) mean there are limited options to intervene when residents face "life-changing financial penalties" for incorrectly following planning processes.

It comes after a group of homeowners in the area say they have received bills up to £70,000 for works under current regulations.

Council leader Paul Follows said it was "hard to justify the same bureaucracy and penalties for someone simply trying to build a granny annexe or extra bedrooms".

He said: "If the council makes an error, we'll do everything we can to put it right, but when a resident makes an honest mistake, our hands are tied.

"That's why we need national reform. Councils must be given the flexibility to act with fairness and common sense."

Residents affected by CIL bills protesting outside Waverley Borough Council in April

CIL is a typically a payment charged to developers as a contribution towards essential infrastructure.

But some homeowners have faced bills under current legislation after unintentionally failing to follow the planning application process.

The council says it is "working within its limited powers" to fix issues but has called for further powers to be able to intervene when issues arise.

It is currently setting up a discretionary review system where homeowners can have charges reassessed if they believe they have been billed incorrectly.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has been approached for comment.