The Environment Department this week unveiled its ideas to impose additional charges as part of the planning process on private housing schemes and commercial developments with 75 square metres or more of floor space.
The proposed Jersey Infrastructure Levy (JIL) is expected to raise up to £2.5 million a year to spend on projects such as gardens and cycle paths to regenerate St Helier and community projects in the other parishes.
Colin Buesnel, president of the Association of Jersey Architects, has described the JIL as a ‘stealth tax’ which would increase the cost of building an average family house by £13,600.
The rate for the levy proposed by Environment Minister Steve Luce is £85 per square metre. Social housing developments would be exempt. Property developers, builders and architects – who have collectively opposed the concept of a levy since Deputy Luce came up with the idea in December 2015 – attended a briefing on Thursday.
Mr Buesnel said he would be emailing AJA members and discussing the levy with the association’s council before making any further public announcement.
The Jersey Construction Council says it also needs time to examine the proposed levy before speaking on behalf of its members from across the building industry.
