What is CIL?

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a fixed rate charge for each square metre of additional floor space created by development. The money raised through CIL is used to help fund the infrastructure needed to support development. CIL operates alongside and partially replaces Section 106 agreements, although the latter are still the main mechanism for securing on-site infrastructure, dealing with site-specific issues and providing affordable housing.

The Planning Act 2008 made provision for the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy. Regulations governing the operations of CIL were first introduced in April 2010 and have subsequently been amended.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has followed the procedures and requirements set out in the acts and regulations to produce and introduce its CIL charging schedule, effective from 1 February 2018. The submission charging schedule was subject to public examination in September 2016, and the examiner's report was received on 4 September 2017. You can read more about the background to the introduction of CIL on our CIL Adoption pages.

With some exceptions (see FAQs 1 and 2 within the CIL User Guide), planning applications determined after 1 February 2018, and involving new build of 100m² gross internal floorspace or greater, may be liable to Stratford-on-Avon's CIL charges, although the council's charges will, until such time as they are revised, apply only to residential development and some retail development.

The council's CIL charging schedule identifies which types of development are liable to pay CIL and a number of different levy rates that apply in various locations.

The council's instalments policy, which can be found in the charging schedule, provides for CIL payments to be spread over the course of two years, depending on the scale of the CIL liability.

Except for applications for outline planning consent, all planning applications must now be accompanied by the Planning Application Additional Information Requirement form. Guidance on completing this form is also available.