‘It should never have been the case that the Community Infrastructure Levy be imposed on homes that are being rebuilt following a disaster such as that of the Wennington Village fire.’

Dagenham and Rainham MP steps in to have CIL removed for Wennington residents needing their homes rebuilt after the fire in 2022.

Following the devastating wildfire that destroyed 17 homes in Wennington Village during the July 2022 heatwave, the home owners suffered insult to their injury when they discovered that Havering Council, in following the then Tory Government’s rules, were required to impose a Community Infrastructure Levy payment when the houses were rebuilt.

The residents were rightly aggrieved about the situation, they had lost their homes their possessions and suffered the trauma of being in temporary accommodation and then were told the rules meant they would face a tax on rebuilding their homes. However, Margaret Mullane, the Member of Parliament for Dagenham and Rainham,  took up the campaign to overturn the decision.

On the 22nd July this year, just two weeks after being elected as the Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham, she took the argument to the Housing Minister in the new Government. The Minister has now responded to Margaret.

Margaret told the Havering Daily: “Thank goodness, common sense is now prevailing. It should never have been the case that Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) be imposed when a home is simply being rebuilt following a disaster such as that which struck the residents of Wennington Village on 19 July 2022.

Despite my representations the previous government just wrung their hands and said sorry, they are the rules.

I simply could not accept that and as soon as I was elected and we had a change of government I wrote again to the Minister and after consideration was given, I received a reply from him to say that my points have been taken on board.

Of course, CIL should be imposed on developers to help fund the school places, health facilities and transport requirements for housing schemes that no doubt generate plenty of profit. But to impose this on people simply looking to rebuild their homes was a travesty. I am relieved that the new Government is to change the rules.”

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