What is the Community Infrastructure Levy?

The Community Infrastructure Levy (the ‘levy’) is a charge which can be levied by local authorities on new development in their area. It is an important tool for local authorities to use to help them deliver the infrastructure needed to support development in their area.

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 the Community Infrastructure Levy be spent on?

The levy can be used to fund a wide range of infrastructure, including transport, flood defences, schools, hospitals, and other health and social care facilities (for further details, see section 216(2) of the Planning Act 2008, and regulation 59, as amended by the 2012 and 2013 Regulations). This definition allows the levy to be used to fund a very broad range of facilities such as play areas, 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. This flexibility gives local areas the opportunity to choose what infrastructure they need to deliver their relevant plan (the Development Plan and the London Plan in London). Charging authorities may not use the levy to fund affordable housing.

Local authorities must spend the levy on infrastructure needed to support the development of their area, and they will decide what infrastructure is needed.

The levy can be used to increase the capacity of existing infrastructure or to repair failing existing infrastructure, if that is necessary to support development.

Reporting by Parish Councils-

Each financial  year a Parish Council must produce and publish on their website a summary of what CIL amounts they have received, what they have spent the money on and if they haven't  spent the full amount, how much they have carried over to the following year.

Parish Council must use the money within a five year period of receiving the amount or the charging authority, which in our case is Folkestone and Hythe District Council can ask for the money to be returned to them.

Annual Infrastructure Funding Statement

For information please click on the relevant year of interest