We want to know your thoughts on improvements for Soho using the Community Interest Levy - deadline 10 July 2020

Developing our Soho Neighbourhood Plan has allowed the community to play a greater role in shaping Soho’s future by sharing ideas and building consensus about what needs to be done in the area. It will also give the community a say in how some of the funds generated by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) can be used by Westminster City Council (WCC) to spend on local projects.What is CIL?CIL is a levy on all building development projects paid to the Council. When a new building development is underway, developers pay a fee, or a 'levy" to the council. This fee is then held by the council to be used for improvements to the local area. Neighbourhood Plan's that are underway are able to have a say,  with the council, on how the CIL fees (paid by developers) are used.CIL & Soho The Soho forum has the right to apply to WCC to say how 15% of the money generated in Soho should be spent. Once our Neighbourhood Plan has been adopted that will increase to 25%. To be eligible for CIL funding the projects we champion will need to address demands that development places on Soho. The CIL process is still a relatively new one and we are working with the Council through the process but the more direct input we have from our members the easier it will be to make the case for funding our local priority projects.Soho Neighbourhood Plan & CIL In the earlier stages of public consultation and in drawing up our draft Plan, a number of recommendations were put forward by members and the steering group which might benefit from CIL. Some new proposals have also come forward. These are listed below and the references in brackets are to the corresponding sections in our draft Plan which can be found here.Not everything can be funded so please let us know your view, by ranking the three choices, that you feel are the most important ones to take further now to benefit Soho. Please only select your top three choices, ranking in your order of priority using the check boxes below. We will use the survey results to take a snapshot analysis and will come back to you with the results.The google survey form can be found hereIf you have your own idea for a scheme that could be eligible for CIL funding please also complete the text area of the survey form and include that in your list of priorities.If you don’t want to receive e-mails on this issue please leave the email box blank.The deadline for responses is 5.00 pm on 10th July 2020.Thank you.On behalf of the Soho Neighbourhood Forum Steering Group. May 2020