Wakefield is set to get a lot of community improvements thanks to the reinvestment of funds from housing, warehousing and retail developments.
This is part of the councils wider strategy to ensure that local developments benefit the people who live in the area. One big boost is a £200,000 injection into Wakefield Hospice to improve the facility and services.
How Wakefield reinvests developer cash
When developers build new housing, supermarkets or industrial units they pay Wakefield Council. These are called Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and are a way for the council to gather funds that can be reinvested into projects that benefit local communities. It’s a system that means new developments aren’t just about new buildings but about improving life for residents.
Councillor Matthew Morley, Cabinet Member for Planning and Highways at Wakefield Council, said:
“Residents and communities should benefit from this funding. That’s why we introduced charges for developers so investment supports people and places across the district.”
The meeting on 15 October will be where councillors will agree the funding for several new community projects so the money goes to where it will make the most impact.
New developments
At the next council meeting members will be looking at business cases for:
- £200,000 for Wakefield Hospice
- £25,000 for Outwood Memorial Hall
These are part of a wider pattern of reinvestment that has already seen millions of pounds directed into community improvements across Wakefield. For example:
- £1 million for sports and leisure infrastructure in North West Wakefield
- £1 million for the Football Foundation portfolio of projects
- £500,000 for the Broad Lane improvement scheme
- £400,000 for the Highfield Road local improvement scheme in Hemsworth
These are about more than just infrastructure. They are about improving life for residents by improving local facilities, creating jobs and supporting key services like health and education.
Wider impact across the district
It’s not just big ticket items either. The reinvestment from these charges helps to regenerate town centres, improve transport links and create affordable housing. These are the kind of things you might not notice day to day but make a huge difference to how communities work and live.
For instance, the money supports education through investment in school buildings and more school places so growing communities have the resources they need for children and families to flourish. They also help maintain and improve parks and open spaces so the district is greener and nicer for everyone.
How the community infrastructure levy works
Since 2016 the Community Infrastructure Levy has allowed us to take money from developers and put it into community and infrastructure projects. So new developments don’t just change the skyline but the lives of people in Wakefield for the better.
We split the money raised through the levy like this:
- 70% goes into infrastructure projects that benefit the whole district. This could be roads, flood defences, schools, medical facilities, recreational areas.
- 25% is for neighbourhood level projects. So the communities that are impacted by the developments will see the benefits, as the money is spent in the same local area.
- 5% is used to cover the costs of running the levy.
Everyone wins: developers get to create new space and communities get improvements in their area, from better roads and parks to new jobs and housing.
Why this matters to you
If you live in Wakefield these projects are about making your community better. Whether it’s a local improvement scheme like Hemsworth or Outwood or a larger district wide project you’ll see the benefits in some way. From better roads and public spaces to access to sports facilities and community hubs these investments shape the environment around you.
And beyond the benefits, projects like the Wakefield Hospice improvements help to support services that many local people rely on. With the council putting the fees paid by developers back into community projects it’s about long term value for everyone.
So next time you see a new housing development or supermarket being built remember some of the money spent by those developers is being reinvested to make your community a more alive and connected place to live.
Watch the meeting
If you want to know more about how the funding decisions are made you can watch the next council meeting on Tuesday 15 October at 10:30 am. The meeting will be live on the council’s website and you can catch up later if you can’t watch it live. It’s your chance to see how the council will be using these funds to make a difference in your area.
Developer contributions at a glance:
- Introduced: 1 April 2016
- Used for: Infrastructure to support growth, jobs, education and community facilities
- Spending Breakdown:
- 70% district wide infrastructure (roads, schools, flood defences, medical facilities etc.)
- 25% local projects in the area where the money is raised
- 5% administrative costs
Watch this space. 😊👀🏠💪🏽
