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Would you pay a new tax to live next to a park? Would you pay a new tax to live next to a park?
(7 months later)
Ministers are examining proposals to invite residents who live next to a park to pay a tax that reflects the boost to their house prices from pleasant green spaces. Ministers are examining proposals to invite residents who live next to a park to pay a tax that reflects the boost to their house prices from pleasant green spaces.
With local authorities cutting funding for the upkeep of parks, it is recognised that new sources of funding are needed to avoid a trend seen in the 1970s and 1980s where some parks deteriorated into wastelands with high rates of crime.With local authorities cutting funding for the upkeep of parks, it is recognised that new sources of funding are needed to avoid a trend seen in the 1970s and 1980s where some parks deteriorated into wastelands with high rates of crime.
A report from the Policy Exchange thinktank proposes a hypothecated levy, separate from council tax, to be paid by people who live near parks and benefit from their maintenance or regeneration.A report from the Policy Exchange thinktank proposes a hypothecated levy, separate from council tax, to be paid by people who live near parks and benefit from their maintenance or regeneration.
The thinktank, whose former directors include business minister Nick Boles and George Osborne's special adviser Neil O'Brien, recognises that it would be politically difficult to introduce such a charge. It suggests that local referendums should be used to win popular support for a levy. The thinktank, whose former directors include business minister Nick Boles and George Osborne's special adviser Neil O'Brien, recognises that it would be politically difficult to introduce such a charge. It suggests that local referendums should be used to win popular support for a levy.
A similar model has been used in San Francisco where neighbourhoods paying the levy were called green benefit districts. It is understood that the recommendation is being considered as ministers look for ways to regenerate parks while avoiding further cost to the Treasury.A similar model has been used in San Francisco where neighbourhoods paying the levy were called green benefit districts. It is understood that the recommendation is being considered as ministers look for ways to regenerate parks while avoiding further cost to the Treasury.
The Policy Exchange report, Green Society: Policies to improve the UK's green spaces, to be launched this week, says: "If introduced into the UK, green benefit districts could be named park improvement districts ... Their design should consider a variety of circumstances, for example … which residents would be exempt from paying the levy (for example, those receiving benefits), the turnout required to make a vote valid, and the percentage of votes required to implement the levy. The Policy Exchange report, Green Society: Policies to improve the UK's green spaces, to be launched this week, says: "If introduced into the UK, green benefit districts could be named park improvement districts ... Their design should consider a variety of circumstances, for example … which residents would be exempt from paying the levy (for example, those receiving benefits), the turnout required to make a vote valid, and the percentage of votes required to implement the levy.
"Park improvement districts would not be appropriate in every location, for example in more deprived areas. However, the advantages of this approach are that: those residents benefiting most from a green space support it the most; there is flexibility in the level of maintenance and management a community engage in; it encourages communities to take greater, and potentially increasing, responsibility for their local green spaces; it encourages communities to become more involved in volunteering in their local green spaces.""Park improvement districts would not be appropriate in every location, for example in more deprived areas. However, the advantages of this approach are that: those residents benefiting most from a green space support it the most; there is flexibility in the level of maintenance and management a community engage in; it encourages communities to take greater, and potentially increasing, responsibility for their local green spaces; it encourages communities to become more involved in volunteering in their local green spaces."
Policy Exchange analysed price increases of homes located within 100 metres and 100-200m from Southwark park in south London before and after a £2.7m regeneration project. It found a 645% increase in prices of properties within 100m of the park between 1998-2002 and mid-2002-2013. The regeneration works took place in early 2002. There was a 286% increase in prices between those two periods for properties 100-200m away. Policy Exchange analysed price increases of homes located within 100 metres and 100-200m from Southwark park in south London before and after a £2.7m regeneration project. It found a 645% increase in prices of properties within 100m of the park between 1998-2002 and mid-2002-2013. The regeneration works took place in early 2002. There was a 286% increase in prices between those two periods for properties 100-200m away.
The thinktanks says the analysis, while crude, suggests there "may be a link between green space quality and property prices", aiding the case for a park tax.The thinktanks says the analysis, while crude, suggests there "may be a link between green space quality and property prices", aiding the case for a park tax.
Among other recommendations, Policy Exchange suggests that green prescriptions should be further rolled out. This is where GPs prescribe to patients courses of activity that could range from intense physical exercise to horticultural work. Patients would pay a standard prescription charge, the local NHS would meet the rest of the cost of the course, and the private course provider would pay a fee to a local park for its use. Among other recommendations, Policy Exchange suggests that green prescriptions should be further rolled out. This is where GPs prescribe to patients courses of activity that could range from intense physical exercise to horticultural work. Patients would pay a standard prescription charge, the local NHS would meet the rest of the cost of the course, and the private course provider would pay a fee to a local park for its use.
Katherine Drayson, author of the report, said: "In a time of reduced public sector spending, we need to find innovative ways of encouraging people to use and improve their local parks and other green spaces."Katherine Drayson, author of the report, said: "In a time of reduced public sector spending, we need to find innovative ways of encouraging people to use and improve their local parks and other green spaces."