Suspension of CIL charges on affordable housing

In March the government and the Mayor of London confirmed the suspension of  Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), the charge developers pay to provide much needed infrastructure alongside new development.

CIL will be suspended in London on eligible residential schemes that start before 31st March 2030 – schemes providing at least 20% affordable housing, excluding student accommodation and co-living (shared-living) housing.

CIL is important to help fund strategic infrastructure needed to support growth — things like primary schools, GP and dental surgeries, transport improvements, flood mitigation, open spaces and community facilities. It is non‑negotiable, predictable, and collected at commencement, making it one of the few reliable capital funding sources for local authorities.

The Council’s  2024-25 Infrastructure Funding Statement shows the value of  Borough CIL receipts was £14,084,329, with  CIL expenditure of £4,861,751.  In addition, the neighbourhood portion (NCIL) that funds infrastructure or activities that address the impact of development on local areas, was £4,539,252, giving total CIL and NCIL expenditure of £9,401,003.