Community Infrastructure Levy – a brief explanation
If you have bought a property in the last few years, or have carried out works to your existing property, you may have come across the relatively new Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).
The first CIL came into force nine years ago as a result of the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010. The intention was to provide additional income for the local authority to support the development of the local area. In London, the Levy goes towards the local authority to contribute towards local development plans, and also to the Mayor of London for citywide development plans.
The levy is charged per square metre of the development, with a minimum payable liability of £50, and the level of the charge will vary between different local authorities.
A CIL is payable on certain types of development, including a new house of any size, but is mainly designed to affect new developments or large extensions (of 100 square metres or more) to existing properties. In addition to the usual requirement of planning permission and building regulations approval for such works, you will also have to pay the CIL liability to the council, although CIL does not at least mean that any additional permission is required.
CIL is linked to planning permission, in that the CIL is charged on new development, which would in turn usually require planning permission. It should however be noted that where you seek a Lawful Development Certificate, to confirm your right to carry out work to the property under permitted development rights, this would not trigger a CIL payment if no planning permission would have been required for the work.
Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/community-infrastructure-levy.
If you need any advice on Community Infrastructure Levy, or if you are looking to buy or sell a property, please contact Andy Roscoe at Meaby & Co for advice: andy@meaby.co.uk or call 020 7703 5034.
