Hertsmere will be one of the first local authorities in the authority to take advantage of changes in the way councils get money from developers for infrastructure.

Hertsmere Borough Council is signing up to the new Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which will replace the current system of planning arrangements between councils and developers known as section 106 agreements.

The levy is a tax the council can charge developers for new developments in the area to help it fund new infrastructure projects such as roads, schools and parks.

The charge will apply to most new developments where the proposed floor space or net additional floor space is 100 square metres or more.

The rate will be set as pounds per square metre and in Hertsmere it will vary depending on the location and type of development.

Councillor Harvey Cohen, who has responsibility for planning, said the new levy would be “fairer, faster and more transparent” than the section 106 agreements and would give the council greater

freedom in spending the money.

He added: “We need to ensure we have the right things in place to support new development for our new and existing residents and this move shows that we take this responsibility seriously.”

The levy will come into force later this year.