Clearview South Feb 2013 - Issue 135 | Page 5

DOORS&WINDOWS CIL Holding Back New Housing The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) on new developments is hindering rather than helping smaller house-builders trying to meet the growing UK housing shortage, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has warned. Nick Boles MP, the Planning Minister, recently outlined plans to give up to 25 per cent of the CIL charged on new homes directly to community bodies such as parish councils, in a bid to ease local objections to new development. But the FMB restated its opposition to CIL in principle, saying the building industry needs less not more bureaucracy and red tape. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “While we appreciate the Government’s attempts to tackle the yawning housing deficit by incentivising new development, it is difficult to see how this latest announcement is going to kick-start the building of the quarter of a million new homes Britain needs every year just to keep up with demand.” CIL came into force in April 2010, to fund upgrades to local infrastructure such as roads and schools wherever development was taking place. Local councils can choose whether or not to charge the levy, and initially take-up was slow. It is anticipated, however, that by 2014 around half of all councils in England and Wales will charge it on any new home requiring planning permission, including self-build projects. Charles Craig In Memoriam It is with sadness that the Timber Trade Federation announces that Charlie Craig, former chairman of Charles Craig (Timber Agents) Ltd, Liverpool and Craig Lumber Corp, Collierville, TN USA, passed away in hospital near his Wirral home on December 19th 2012. He was 82 years old and a thanksgiving service was held at St Peters church, Heswall Merseyside on January 8th. Charlie founded Charles Craig Ltd in 1962 and grew the business to being one of the largest hardwood timber agents in the UK. In 1977 he founded Craig Lumber Corp, Memphis TN to import tropical timber to the USA from their existing sawmill suppliers around the world. The UK agency was sold to DLH (UK) Ltd in 2006 and Craig Lumber Corp was sold to Atlanta Hardwood Corp, USA in 2010. Charlie is a past president of the North West Timber Trade Association and a past Director of the Timber Trade Federation. He was an active member of the Liverpool Timber Trade Golfing Society and Liverpool Timber Trade Benevolent Society. Charlie is survived by Anne, his wife of 55 years and their son Charlie. Their daughter Jenny passed away in 2010. Ultimate70® glass RESIDENCE 9 BS7950 KM 98962 BS7412 KM 98963 BS12608 KM 13358 KM 533078 Safety Glass KM 37917 IGU KM 565878 Energy Rating To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com FEB 2013 5