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About the community infrastructure levy

The community infrastructure levy (CIL) is a charge which developers have to pay towards the cost of the infrastructure that will support their development. The levy is charged per square metre of development. The charge payable will vary according to the size, type, and location of the development.

Detailed information and forms relating to CIL, along with links to the regulations, can be found on the planning portal and planning practice guidance websites.

North Somerset and the levy

In accordance with the 2019 CIL regulations update, we are now required to index CIL contributions based on the calendar year. However, from 1 January 2020 the CIL rate will be changing. Please see the below CIL Indexation 2020 document for rates and further information.

Our CIL charging schedule took effect on 18 January 2018. Development that was granted consent on or after this date may be liable to pay the CIL, even if the planning application was registered beforehand.

Our charging schedule sets out the rates payable by different types of development and the maps showing the different zones in the district.

What the levy is spent on

We are required to spend CIL income on infrastructure to support development. We will publish an annual report which will set out the CIL payments we have received and spent. We can use up to 5% of CIL income to meet the administrative costs of operating the CIL.

We are required to publish a list of infrastructure that may be funded through the CIL. This is called a Regulation 123 list.

Inclusion on the list does not necessarily mean that an item will receive funding. It will depend on how much money is available and what is considered a priority.

We are not allowed to ask developers to make Section 106 payments for infrastructure that is included on the Regulation 123 list, because that infrastructure is intended to be funded through the CIL.

15% of CIL income is passed directly to the town or parish council in which the development takes place, subject to an annual cap. If the town or parish council has an adopted neighbourhood development plan, then this amount is increased to 25% without any cap.

Further information about this money can be found on our information for local communities page.

Setting and reviewing the levy rates

The Community Infrastructure Levy legislation was introduced in 2010 that allows local councils to set their own levy. Our establishment of the levy followed the below timeline:

  1. consultation on a preliminary draft charging schedule - November 2012 to January 2013
  2. consultation on a draft charging schedule - August and September 2016
  3. the CIL was independently examined by an Inspector - February 2017
  4. formal approval of the CIL charging schedule - 18 July 2017, and it took effect 18 January 2018

You can view further details of our approval process for the levy in the documents below.  

We are committed to reviewing our CIL rates alongside the production of our new Local Plan, but this does not necessarily mean that the rates will change.

We may also review the rates if there is a change in the legislation or national guidance governing the CIL.

Annual financial reports

Government legislation requires us to produce an Infrastructure Funding Statement each year. This needs to show any income and expenditure relating to the Community Infrastructure Levy and S106 legal agreements.

The most recent statement can be found below.