East Cambridgeshire District Council

Introduction

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a new levy that local authorities can charge on developments in their area. The monies can be used towards the delivery of infrastructure and services required as a result of growth - for example, school places, health facilities and transport improvements.

The District Council intends to adopt a CIL levy by the end of 2012. The new CIL levy will be charged in £ per square metre of additional net floorspace. It will apply to all new dwellings, and other types of additional net development of 100 m2 or more. Development for charitable purposes and affordable housing will be exempt.

CIL will largely replace the current system of securing contributions from developers via Section 106 agreements. However, Section 106 agreements will continue to be used to secure local site-related infrastructure such as open space, access and habitat protection - and affordable housing. CIL will therefore operate in tandem with a scaled-back system of Section 106 agreements.

CIL will give the Council and local communities greater flexibility to help deliver infrastructure, as it is not ring fenced and can be spent on any identified local or strategic infrastructure need. It will also give developers certainty on what they will have to pay towards infrastucture.

This webpage sets out a summary of how CIL will be introduced and how it operates. Further details are set out in the Government's CIL Regulations, which can be viewed via the links at the end of the page. If you have any questions on CIL, please email cil@eastcambs.gov.uk, or call Katie Child, Principal Forward Planning Officer on 01353 665555.

The process of introducing CIL

The District Council needs to prepare a 'Charging Schedule' which sets out proposed CIL levy rates. This needs to be prepared in consultation with developers, landowners and the local community. Responses are then considered by an independent Inspector as part of an Examination process. The key stages with timescales are set out below.

Draft Charging Schedule

Consultation on a Draft Charging Schedule is taking place between 3rd and 31st May 2012 (by 5pm). The Draft Charging Schedule consultation paper can be viewed by clicking on the link below. Comments should be made via the on-line questionnaire, via the link below (alternatively, written comments can be made by email to cil@eastcambs.gov.uk, or post to Katie Child, Forward Planning team, East Cambs District Council, The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, Cambs CB7 4EE).

Supporting documents can also be seen via the links below. This includes the Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule and Summary of Responses document.

Link to on-line questionnaire   (live from 3rd May 2012) 
 

CIL Draft Charging Schedule - Consultation Paper (May 2012)

CIL Draft Charging Schedule Questionaire (May 2012) (print version only)

Statement of the Representations Procedure (May 2012)

CIL Viability Assessment - report (December 2011)

CIL Viability Assessment - appendices (December 2011)

Viability Assessment Addendum (May 2012)

Viability Assessment Addendum - Appendix 1 (May 2012)

Viability Assessment Addendum - Appendix 2a (May 2012)

Viability Assessment Addendum - Appendix 2b (May 2012)

CIL Infrastructure Study (December 2011)

Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule (Dec11)

Questionnaire December 2011 (print version only)

Summary of Responses - Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule