Essential infrastructure must be established before development schemes can commence in the Sustainable Communities Plan's southern England growth areas. Forthcoming research by consultancy Roger Tym and Partners estimates that at least £2bn per year needs to be spent on infrastructure in the growth areas, mostly on transport. Considers the effectiveness of current and proposed government methods of extracting developer contributions to infrastructure costs: s106 planning gain agreements; tax on the development value of land; and new methods of raising money within existing legislation, such as pooled s106 contributions to fund major infrastructure schemes. Looks at three schemes seeking to use innovative methods to fund infrastructure: the Milton Keynes planning tariff; the Bedford western bypass clawback deal; and the Cranbrook regional private sector infrastructure fund. Concludes that government must be prepared to act as cash-flow banker for infrastructure and should confirm how much more public money will be made available.