What is the Community Infrastructure Levy?
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge that can be applied to new development. Most new development that creates net additional floor space of 100 square metres or more, or creates a new dwelling, could be liable for the levy. However, the levy only applies in areas where a local authority has consulted on, and approved, a charging schedule which sets out its levy rates and has published the schedule on its website.
What can it be spent on?
Councils use the CIL charge to pay for ‘Community Infrastructure’ and can use their CIL charging schedule to target the charges at the type of development that generates additional need for this infrastructure. CIL can be used to fund a wide range of infrastructure, including transport, flood defences, schools, hospitals, and other health and social care facilities, open spaces, parks and green spaces, cultural and sports facilities, healthcare facilities, academies and free schools, district heating schemes and police stations and other community safety facilities. The council will normally maintain a list of the specific infrastructure projects for which it is seeking funding through CIL.
Is it the same as a Section 106 Contribution?
No. Section 106 contributions are different and can be applied in addition to CIL charges. Unlike Section 106 contributions, which are used to overcome project specific issues and can make an application acceptable, where it would not be acceptable without the contribution, CIL charges are standardised and apply uniformly across a council (in accordance with their charging schedule).
Why is it important to know the CIL rates up front?
There is so much scope for uncertainty in the planning process. It’s very hard to know the scope and scale of potential Section 106 contributions, or Section 278 (Highways) contributions, that may be required by a planning permission when you start out. Because CIL charged are known at the ouset they can be factored into your development viability assessment. Understanding if your development is ‘ratable’ (i.e. if it is of a type and scale, and in a location, that attracts a CIL charge), and what the applicable CIL rate per square metre is, will be a vital addition to your project finance calculations.
Where can I access CIL data in LandInsight?
Users can access CIL data by navigating to the Planning Policy layer within LandInsight and then scrolling to the bottom of the drop-down options on the left hand panel of the screen. Here, you can select “Local Planning Authority”.
Select the authority you wish to enquire on from the main map view, and then the CIL data will be available in the opened window on the right of the screen.
More info here from the Government website.