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MP slams 'bedroom tax' rip-off

Jaimie Kanwar

A Dorset council has come up with a novel way of squeezing extra money out of its residents…

Purbeck District Council has decided to levy a £1,000 "bedroom tax" on home extensions. The council has said the money is necessary to pay for improved local infrastructure, including roads. But Dorset County Council looks after the roads and Jim Knight, Labour MP for South Dorset, has labelled it a "money-making scheme".

Mr Knight explained: "People don't see any roads being improved. Residents are saying it's a 'bedroom tax'. I don't mind developers having to pay more money because they are building houses to improve roads, but it's unfair for residents because it just looks to me and to the people I represent as a money-making scheme for the council rather than it being something that's fair or reasonable”.

Long term initiative

Dorset County Council has a £30.45m scheme in place to deal with transport in the area over the next 20 years - the Purbeck Transportation Strategy. It recently published developer contributions guidance, including extensions to existing homes at "£993 per extra bedroom or room having the capacity to be a bedroom".

Alan Davies, development control manager at Purbeck District Council, responded to the criticisms: “The fee was devised from a calculated trip rate made by vehicles to and from a property. The fee only applied to extensions that required planning consent and that the council would listen to any appeals.

”It applies to all development that impacts on the local highway network. In 2002 we were told by the government that our roads were at capacity and we should not be allowing any more development. We came up with a policy that would allow us to pay for highway improvements. We are looking long-term."